Influence of fibre alignments on the mechanical properties of novel Spirograph based non-woven mat composites

Abstract

Fibre architecture of glass fibre (GF) reinforced polymer composites has a major impact on the mechanical properties for structural applications. In this study, a novel continuous glass fibre non-woven GF mat based on Spirograph art pattern is laid using a customized mechanical system. Spirograph-based continuous glass fibre non-woven (SNW) mat of different patterns was prepared and GF laminate epoxy composites were fabricated with the aim of achieving quasi-isotropic mechanical properties. The samples were cut to dimensions of test specimens from various identical locations symmetrically from a circular-shaped SNW composite laminates which were subjected to flexural, impact, shear and modified compression with anti-buckling tests. One particular SNW pattern composite laminate exhibited 40.82% better impact and 49.01% better shear resistance than commercial 0°/90° woven roving mat composite. The developed SNW laminate composite had quasi-isotropic fibre orientation and better mechanical properties without any stitching and interlacing as in case of woven fibre laminate composite.