Metal Thickness, Fiber Volume Fraction Effect on the Tensile Properties, Debonding of Hybrid Laminates

Abstract

Hybrid aluminum glass fiber laminates consist of glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) bonded with thin aluminum sheets on either side. Laminates with different aluminum thickness and fiber volume fractions were fabricated by hand layup method and were tested under tensile loading. The variations in the elastic modulus, yield strength, and ultimate strength as well as the extent of delamination were studied. Rule of mixtures predictions of laminate properties under tensile loading compared well with the experimental results. Delamination was found to depend upon the thickness of aluminum alloy sheet, among other factors. Scanning electron microscopic pictures on the fractured hybrid specimen showed that the GFRP failure was due to fiber fracture, fiber pullout, and fiber matrix debonding. On an overall basis, the hybrid laminate showed a significant improvement in the mechanical properties when compared with the GFRP or monolithic aluminum. Though an increase in fiber volume fraction increases the elastic modulus, it does not have any notable effect on the failure mechanism or debonding of the hybrid aluminum glass fiber laminate.