IRJET- Experimental Investigation of Mechanical Properties for Multilayer GFRP Composites with Different Orientations

International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 06 Issue: 11 | Nov 2019 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072
© 2019, IRJET | Impact Factor value: 7.34 | ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal | Page 3507
EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF MECHANICAL PROPERTIES FOR
MULTILAYER GFRP COMPOSITES WITH DIFFERENT ORIENTATIONS
M. Murali Krishna1, K. Sandeep Sunadh², R.V. Kiran³
1M.Tech Student, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Chebrolu Engineering College, Andhra Pradesh, India
²Assistant Professor, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Chebrolu Engineering College, Andhra Pradesh, India
³Assistant Professor, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Chebrolu Engineering College, Andhra Pradesh, India
---------------------------------------------------------------------------***---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Abstract- Composites are very efficient in dealing with tensile
and compressive loads when compared to metals. Now a day’s
metals are replaced with composites because of their high
strength to weight ratio and are externally used. In aircraft
and automobile industries in our project tensile, compressive,
brinell hardness and impact tests were carried out for GFRP
specimens with different orientation of fiber in unidirectional,
Bidirectional and multi directional. Hand layup method was
used for the production of GFRP composites. Through the
results of this study, it will be evaluated that which one have
good tensile and compression strengths and brine hardness
and impact tests are also evaluated and the best one among
the unidirectional, bidirectional and multi directional GFRP
composites which have optimum properties will be considered
and are preferred.
Key Words: Glass Fibers, Ceramic Fibers, Thermo Plastics,
Metal Composites, Epoxy resin, Aradur R Fly 9511
Hardener.
I. INTRODUCTION
Fibers or particles embedded in matrix of another material
are the best example of modern-day composite materials,
which are mostly structural. Laminates are composite
material where different layers of materials give them the
specific character of a composite material having a specific
function to perform. Fabrics have no matrix to fall back on,
but in them, fibers of different compositions combine to give
them a specific character. Reinforcing materials generally
withstand maximum load and serve the desirable
properties. Further, though composite types are often
distinguishable from one another, no clear determination
can be really made. To facilitate definition, the accent is
often shifted to the levels at which differentiation take place
viz., microscopic or macroscopic. In matrix-based structural
composites, the matrix serves two paramount purposes viz.,
binding the reinforcement phases in place and deforming to
distribute the stresses among the constituent reinforcement
materials under an applied force. The demands on matrices
are many. They may need to temperature variations, be
conductors or resistors of electricity, have moisture
sensitivity etc.
This may offer weight advantages, ease of handling and
other merits which may also become applicable depending
on the purpose for which matrices are chosen. Solids that
accommodate stress to incorporate other constituents
provide strong bonds for the reinforcing phase are potential
matrix materials. A few inorganic materials, polymers and
metals have found applications as matrix materials in the
designing of structural composites, with commendable
success. These materials remain elastic till failure occurs
and show decreased failure strain, when loaded in tension
and compression. Composites cannot be made from
constituents with divergent linear expansion characteristics.
The interface is the area of contact between the
reinforcement and the matrix materials. In some cases, the
region is a distinct added phase. Whenever there is
interphase, there has to be two interphases between each
side of the interphase and its adjoint constituent. Some
composites provide interphases when surfaces dissimilar
constituents interact with each other. Choice of fabrication
method depends on matrix properties and the effect of
matrix on properties of reinforcements. One of the prime
considerations in the selection and fabrication of
composites is that the constituents should be chemically
inert non-reactive.[1] EmadS. Al-Hasani (07-02-2007)Study
Of Tensile Strength And Hardness Property For Epoxy
Reinforced With Glass Fiber LAYERS From the results in the
present work, it was found that depending on the number of
layers, the specific failure load could be enhanced from a
value of about obtained for epoxy resin after reinforcing with
woven rovenglass fibers, while the failure tensile load
changed after reinforcing with random glass fiber sand finally
it changed after reinforcing with the two types of the fibers as
a sandwich, and in all the types the failure tensile load
increased with increasing the number of layers except in
sandwich composite when it decreased for a layers due to the
high volume fraction. The Brinell hardness of epoxy resin is
increased after reinforcing with glass fibers in all the types of
composite with increasing the number of layers. [2]
ShahzadAlam, Farzana Habib, Muhammad Irfan, Waqas
Iqbal, And Khuram Khalid (06-01-2010) Effect Of

Orientation Of Glass Fiber On Mechanical Properties Of Grp
Composites. The orientation of glass fiber has no effect on
the hardness of the GRP composites. The difference in values
did not show any significant effect on the behaviour of this
type of composites but difference in the orientation has a
small effect on the density and impact strength of the
composite materials because of the difference in the number
of strands per unit area but it widely affects the tensile
strength of composites. The maximum value of tensile
strength of the composites is of orientation A (Chopped
Fabric + Vertical Roving). Therefore this kind of orientation
can be used their high tensile strength is required. [3]
PrashanthBanakar, H.K. Shivananda and H.B. Niranjan (21-
02-2012) Influence Of Fiber Orientation And Thickness On
Tensile Properties Of Laminated Polymer
Composites.Theexperimental investigations used for the
analysis of tensile behavior of glass fiber reinforced polymer
laminates leads to the following conclusions. The laminated
specimens with lesser thickness leads to more ultimate
tensile strength irrespective fiber orientations, Specimen
sustain greater load in 90
0
orientation specimens than other
orientations. Young’s modulus of specimens increases with
decrease in thickness. Extension is minimum in case of
90
0
orientations and maximum in case 30
0
orientations.[5]
K.Devendra, T. Ranga Swamy (28-10-2013)Strength
Characterization Of E-Glass Fiber Reinforced Epoxy
Composites With Filler Materials. Based upon the test results
obtained from the various tests carried out, following
conclusions were made From the obtained results, it was
observed that composite filled by 10% volume of Mg(OH)2
exhibited maximum ultimate strength of when compared
with other filled composites. Composites filled by Al2O3
exhibited better ultimate strength compared with
composites filled by flyash and hematite. Increase in addition
of Mg(OH)2,Al2O3 and flyash to composites leads to
decrease in ultimate tensile strength Experimental results
show that composites were filled by 10% volume of flyash
having high impact strength when compared with other
filled composites. Composites filled by 10% volume Al2O3
and Mg(OH)2 exhibited good impact strength but increase in
addition of Al2O3 and Mg(OH)2 leads to decrease in impact
strength. Test results indicated that impact strength
increases with adding more hematite powder to composites.
The experimental results indicated that composite filled by
Mg(OH)2 exhibited maximum hardness number when
compared with other filled composites. From the results, it is
observed that increase in addition of Al2O3 and hematite to
composites increases the hardness of the composites.
Increase in addition of flyash to composites leads to
decrease in hardness number. [6] TD. Jagannatha and G G.
Harish (02-04-2015) Mech an ical Properties
OfCarbon / Glass Fiber Rein forced Epoxy Hybrid
Polym er Composites. Thecarb on fiber and glass fiber
reinforced hybrid composites have been fabricated by
vacuum bag method. Experimental evaluation of mechanical
properties like micro hardness, tensile and flexural
strength of hybrid composites as per ASTM standards has
been successfully completed. The micro hardness of carbon
fiber reinforced composite is higher than the other
composites. The tensile properties have been studied and
the breaking load has been measured. The inclusion of
carbon fiber mat reinforced polymericcomposite
significantly enhanced the ultimate tensile strength, yield
strength and peak load of the composite. The ductility of
carbon fiber reinforced composite is higher than the other
composites. [7] Jelena M.Petrovic, Darko M.Ljubic, MarinaR.
Stamenovic, Ivana D. Dimic, and SlavisaS. Putic
(2012)Tension Mechanical Properties Of Recycled Glass
Epoxy Composite Material. The aim of this study was to
examine and compare the properties of the composites
prepared with RGF sand non-recycled GFs, as well as to
present the possibility for recycling of CMs. The obtained
values of tensile properties of the composites with RGFs are
acceptable and satisfactory, although they are lower than the
corresponding values of the composite with non-recycled
GFs (tensile strength values were 14.5% and module of
elasticity by 13.2% lower than the corresponding values CM
with non-recycled GFs). It can be concluded that the RGECM
retains its tensile properties with minimal fluctuation
compared to GECM, and as such it can be used for different
purposes.
Also, on the basis of the obtained results It can be concluded
that the method of recycling GECM based on the exposure to
nitric acid can be applied to recycle small amounts of the
material, and further research should be directed toward the
improvement of the applied method to solve the problem of
recycling of the compounds from the decomposed epoxy
resin from composite material obtained by boiling in nitric
acid. The method should be developed in the direction of the
application of several different acids to shorten the time of
exposure of the composites to acid attack and increase the
efficiency of the recycling process at lower temperatures.
There cycling of composite materials and recycling in
general can significantly save the energy and the raw
materials, and certainly pollution would be drastically
lowered.
II.MATERIALS AND METHODS
2.1. Glass Fiber Material:
Glass fiber is by far the most predominant fiber used in the
reinforced polymer industry and among the most
versatile. Although melting glass and drawing into fibers is
an ancient technique, long continuous fiber drawn from

glass was introduced in the 1930’s by Owens-Corning as
glass wool and given the popular name fiberglass. Fibers
made from glass are manufactured in many varieties for
specific uses. It typically has a silica content of greater than
50 percent, and the composition with different mineral
oxides give the resulting product its distinct characteristics.
Fig no:1 Glass fiber
2.2. Resin:
various solid or semisolid amorphous fusible
flammable natural organic substances that are
usually transparent or translucent and yellowish to
brown, are formed especially in plant secretions, are
soluble in organic solvents (such as ether) but not in
water, are electrical nonconductors, and are used
chiefly in varnishes, printing inks, plastics, and sizes
and in medicine is known as resin.
Fig no: 2 Araldite LY556 Resin
2.3. ARADUR R FLY 9511N Hardener:
A chemical substance added to something in order to
harden it; used especially with paints, varnishes and resins.
Fig no: 3 ARADUR R FLY 9511N Hardener
2.4. Hand Lay-up Method:
Hand lay-up technique is the simplest method of composite
processing. The infrastructural requirement for this method
is also minimal. The processing steps are quite simple. First
of all, a release gel is sprayed on the mold surface to avoid
the sticking of polymer to the surface. Thin plastic sheets
are used at the top and bottom of the mold plate to get good
surface finish of the product. Reinforcement in the form of
woven mats or chopped strand mats are cut as per the mold
size and placed at the surface of mold after Perspex sheet.
Then thermosetting polymer in liquid form is mixed
thoroughly in suitable proportion with a prescribed
hardener (curing agent) and poured onto the surface of mat
already placed in the mold. The polymer is uniformly spread
with the help of brush. Second layer of mat is then placed on
the polymer surface and a roller is moved with a mild
pressure on the mat-polymer layer to remove any air
trapped as well as the excess polymer present. The process
is repeated for each layer of polymer and mat, till the
required layers are stacked. After placing the plastic sheet,
release gel is sprayed on the inner surface of the top mold
plate which is then kept on the stacked layers and the
pressure is applied. After curing either at room temperature
or at some specific temperature, mold is opened and the
developed composite part is taken out and further
processed. The schematic of hand lay-up is shown in figure
1. The time of curing depends on type of polymer used for
composite processing. For example, for epoxy based system,
normal curing time at room temperature is 24-48 hours.
This method is mainly suitable for thermosetting polymer
based composites. Capital and infrastructural requirement
is less as compared to other methods. Production rate is less
and high volume fraction of reinforcement is difficult to
achieve in the processed composites. Hand lay-up method
finds application in many areas like aircraft components,
automotive parts, boat hulls, diase board, deck etc.
Fig no: 4 Hand Lay-up Method

2.5. Experimental Setup:
2.5.1. Compression Test:
The exact opposite of a tensile test. This is where you
compress an object between two level plates until a certain
load or distance has been reached or the product
breaks. The typical measurements are the maximum force
sustained before breakage (compressive force), or load at
displacement (i.e. 55 pounds at 1” compression), or
displacement at load (i.e. 0.28” of compression at 20 pounds
of force).Several m/c and structure components such as
columns and struts are subjected to compressive load in
applications. These components are made of high
compressive strength materials. Not all the materials are
strong in compression. Several materials, which are good in
tension, are poor in compression. Contrary to this, many
materials poor in tension but very strong in compression.
Cast iron is one such example. That is why determine of
ultimate compressive strength is essential before using a
material. This strength is determined by conduct of a
compression test. Compression test is just opposite in
nature to tensile test. Nature of deformation and fracture is
quite different from that in tensile test. Compressive load
tends to squeeze the specimen. Brittle materials are
generally weak in tension but strong in compression. Hence
this test is normally performed on cast iron, cement
concrete etc. But ductile materials like aluminium and mild
steel which are strong in tension, are also tested in
compression.
Fig no: 5 Compression Test
2.5.2. Tensile Test:
Various m/c and structure components are subjected to
tensile loading in numerous application. For safe design of
these components, their ultimate tensile strength and
ductility one to be determine before actual use. Tensile test
can be conducted on UTM.A material when subjected to a
tensile load resists the applied load by developing internal
resisting force. These resistances come due to atomic
bonding between atoms of the material. The resisting force
for unit normal cross-section area is known as stress. The
value of stress in material goes on increasing with an
increase in applied tensile load, but it has a certain
maximum (finite) limit too. The minimum stress, at which a
material fails, is called ultimate tensile strength. The end of
elastic limit is indicated by the yield point (load). This can
be sensing during experiment as explained later in
procedure with increase in loading beyond elastic limit
original cross-section area (Ao) goes on decreasing and
finally reduces to its minimum value when the specimen
breaks. About of UTM & its Specifications: The tensile test is
conducted on UTM. It is hydraulically operates a pump, oil
in oil sump, load dial indicator and central buttons. The left
has upper, middle and lower cross heads i.e.; specimen grips
(or jaws). Idle cross head can be moved up and down for
adjustment. The pipes connecting the lift and right parts are
oil pipes through which the pumped oil under pressure
flows on left parts to more the cross-heads.
Fig no: 6 Tensile Test
2.5.3. Brinell Hardness Test:
Hardness represents the resistance of material surface to
abrasion, scratching and cutting, hardness after gives clear
indication of strength. In all hardness tests, a define force is
mechanically applied on the piece, varies in size and shape
for different tests. Common indentors are made of hardened
steel or diamond.
Rockwell hardness tester presents direct reading of
hardness number on a dial provided with the m/c.
principally this testing is similar to Brinell hardness testing.
It differs only in diameter and material of the indentor and
the applied force. Although there are many scales having
different combinations of load and size of indentor but
commonly ‘C’ scale is used and hardness is presented as
HRC. Here the indentor has a diamond cone at the tip and
applied force is of 150 kgf. Soft materials are often tested in
‘B’ scale with a 1.6mm dia. Steel indentor at 60kgf.

Fig no: 7 Brinell Hardness Test
2.5.4. Izod Impact test:
In manufacturing locomotive wheels, coins, connecting rods
etc. the components are subjected to impact (shock) loads.
These loads are applied suddenly. The stress induced in
these components are many times more than the stress
produced by gradual loading. Therefore, impact tests are
performed to asses shock absorbing capacity of materials
subjected to suddenly applied loads. These capabilities are
expressed as (i) Rupture energy (ii) Modulus of rupture and
(iii) Notch impact strength.
Fig no: 8 Izod Impact Test
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Table1: Compression Test Results
Fig no: 9 Crushing strength vs load
SI.
NO
Type of
fiber
orientati
on
Load
Acting
(KN)
Crushing
Strength
(N/mm²)
Avera
ge
(N/m
m²)
1 Uni-
Directio
nal
13
13
13
13
13
13
80.6 80.6
2 Bi-
Directio
nal
13
12
11
12
11
80.6
74.4
68.2
74.4
68.2
73.16
3 Multi-
Directio
nal
10
8
8
10
8
62.0
49.6
49.6
62.0
49.6
54.5

Table 2: Tensile test Results
SI.
N
O
Type of
fiber
orienta
tion
Maxi
mum
Load
(KN)
Ultima
te
Streng
th
(N/m
m²)
Avera
ge
(N/m
m²)
Strai
n
Perc
enta
ge of
Elon
gati
on
1 Uni-
Directi
onal
25
29
25
25
26
333.3
3
386.6
333.3
3
333.3
3
346.6
346.6
0.016
0.012
0.020
0.024
0.017
1.6
1.2
2.0
2.4
2.6
2 Bi-
Directi
onal
38
39
36
38
37
506.6
520
480
506.6
493.3
501.3
0.024
0.064
0.036
0.032
0.035
2.4
6.4
5.6
2.4
3.2
3 Multi-
Directi
onal
10
10
10
11
11
133.3
133.3
133.3
146.6
146.6
138.6
0.024
0.064
0.036
0.032
0.032
2.4
2.4
6.4
2.4
3.2
Fig no: 10 Ultimate Strength vs Load
Fig no: 11 Percentage of Elongation vs load
Table 3: Brinell Hardness Test Results
SI.NO Type of fiber
orientation
Hardness in
Brinell
(KN)
Average
(N/mm²)
1 Uni-
Directional
56.79
51.8
49.6
54.25
54.25
53.11
2 Bi-Directional 35.69
38.62
35.69
35.69
36.69
36.66
3 Multi-
Directional
51.8
46.5
47.5
47.5
47.5
48.93

Fig no: 12 Load vs Hardness in Brinell
Table 4: Izod Impact Test Results:
Fig no:13 Breaking load vs Impact Strength
IV. CONCLUSIONS
In all testing of mechanical properties of materials as
Compression, Tensile, Hardness and impact strength on
samples of uni-directional, bi-directional and multi-
directional glass fiber reinforced epoxy resin based polymer
composites, following points have been concluded.
1. Bi-directional oriented glass fiber reinforced epoxy
composites have large value of all the properties
such as Ultimate force, Compressive strength,
Tensile strength, Elongation, Hardness, Impact
strength etc. In tensile as well as impact test it
means bi-directional glass fiber composites have
more strength than other fiber composites.
2. The comparison between result of both the Tables
1&2 shows that the value of ultimate force in
Tensile test in case of Uni-direction, Bi-direction
fiber composites.
3. It means that the Uni-directional fiber is greater
than bi-directional fiber in hardness and
compression test. The Bi-directional fibers is
greater than Uni-directional fibers in tensile and
impact test.
REFERENCES
1. Al HasaniE.S.(2007),” Study of Tensile strength and
hardness property for epoxy reinforced with glass
fiber layers.
2. Alam S., HabibF., Irfan M. IqbalW. And Khalid
K.(2010).” Effect of orientation of glass fiber on
mechanical properties of GRP composites “. J.Chem
.Soc.Pak.
3. BanakarP., Shivananda H.K and Niranjan
H.B.(2012).” Influence of fiber orientation and
thickness of tensile properties of laminated
polymer composites“, Int. Journal of pure applied
science and technology.
4. Deogonda P. and Chalwa V.N.(2013), “Mechanical
properties of glass fiber reinforcement epoxy
composites” International journal of scientific
engineering and research.
5. Devendra K. and RamaswamyT.,(2013)” Strength
characterization of E-glass fiber reinforcement
epoxy composites with filler materials” Journal of
minerals and materials characterization and
engineering.
SI.NO Type of fiber
orientation
Breakin
g Load
(J)
Impact
Strength
(N/mm²)
Average
(N/mm²)
1 Uni-
Directional
10
8
8
8
8
0.26
0.20
0.20
0.20
0.20
0.212
2 Bi-
Directional
10
10
10
8
8
0.26
0.26
0.26
0.20
0.20
0.236
3 Multi-
Directional
6
6
6
6
6
0.15
0.15
0.15
0.15
0.15
0.15

6. Campbell(2010), “Structural Composite materials“,
ASM International.
7. Mahalakshmi B.N. and Prasad V.V.(2013), “ Study of
mechanical behavior of carbo fiber reinforced
epoxy composites “, International Journal of
mechanical and production engineering research
and development.

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