Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Experimental Investigation on the Fatigue Behavior of Glass Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Composites Under Rotating Bending Loads

  • Technical Article---Peer-Reviewed
  • Published:
Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A glass fiber-reinforced epoxy (GFRE) composite, constituted by glass fibers in off-axis directions, i.e., [± 45°]2S was considered in this investigation for evaluating its static and fatigue behaviors. During the tensile test, GFRE composites exhibited nonlinear behavior, and subsequently reaching the ultimate point, test specimens rapidly failed owing to fiber failure. Fatigue tests were conducted under completely reversed rotating bending loads. The fatigue degradation model suggested by Hwang and Han was adopted to illustrate the effect of five different stress levels and test frequency (10 Hz) on the fatigue life of GFRE composites. From the obtained results, it was evident that the fatigue degradation model suggested by Hwang and Han shows good agreement with experimental results as compared to the S–N curve and Basquin’s approaches. From SEM results, matrix cracking and fiber pullout were observed at lower stress levels, whereas under higher stress levels propagation of cracks in the longitudinal direction was majorly responsible for catastrophic failure of fibers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

GFRE:

Glass fiber reinforced epoxy composites

ρ GF :

Density of glass fiber

ρ E :

Density of epoxy matrix

σ ult :

Ultimate tensile strength

σ :

Bending stress

Z :

Section modulus

M t :

Bending moment

S :

Fatigue strength

N f :

Number of rotations to failure (2 reversals = 1 cycle)

a :

Cyclic strength coefficient

b :

Cyclic strength exponent

s :

Stress level applied

q :

Constant in s-logNf plane of S–N curve

r :

Constant in s-logNf plane of S–N curve

D :

Material constant

q :

Material constant

References

  1. C. Bathias, An engineering point of view about fatigue of polymer matrix composite materials. Int. J. Fatigue. 28, 1094–1099 (2006)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. D. Joris, W.V. Paepegam, Fatigue damage modeling of fiber reinforced composite materials: review. Appl. Mech. Rev. 54(4), 279–300 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. T.P. Philippidis, A.P. Vassilopoulos, Fatigue design allowable for GRP laminates based on stiffness degradation measurements. Comp. Sci. Technol. 60, 2819–2828 (2000)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. W. Van Paepegem, J. Degrieck, Experimental setup and numerical modeling of bending fatigue experiments on plain woven glass/epoxy composites. Compos. Struct. 51, 1–8 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. G. Belingardi, M.P. Cavatorta, Bending fatigue stiffness and strength degradation in carbon–glass/epoxy hybrid laminates: cross-ply vs. angle-ply specimens. Int. J. Fatigue. 28, 815–825 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. A. Bernasconi, P. Davoli, A. Basile, A. Filippi, Effect of fibre orientation on the fatigue behaviour of a short glass fibre reinforced polyamide-6. Int. J. Fatigue. 29, 199–208 (2007)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. N.K. Kar, Y. Hu, E. Barjasteh, S.R. Nutt, Tension–tension fatigue of hybrid composite rods. Compos. B. 43, 2115–2124 (2012)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. J. Justo, J.C. Marina, F. Parísa, J. Cañas. The Effect of Frequency on Fatigue Behaviour of Graphite-Epoxy Composites “Eccm16 - 16th European Conference on Composite Materials”, Seville, Spain, 22–26 June (2014)

  9. T. Peng, Y. Liu, A. Saxena, K. Goebel, In-situ fatigue life prognosis for composite laminates based on stiffness degradation. J. Compos. Struct. 132, 155–165 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Y. Yamada, K. Iwata, T. Kadowaki, T. Sumiya, Method of reduced variables for stiffness degradation process of unidirectional CFRP composites subjected to alternating bending. J. Compos. Sci. Technol. 138, 117–123 (2017)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. F. Taheri-Behrooz, M.M. Shokrieh, L.B. Lessard, Residual stiffness in cross-ply laminates subjected to cyclic loading. J. Compos. Struct. 85(3), 205–212 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. V. Murari, C.S. Upadhyay, Micromechanics based ply level material degradation model for unidirectional composites. J. Compos. Struct. 94, 671–680 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Y. Zhang, A.P. Vassilopoulos, T. Keller, Stiffness degradation and fatigue life prediction of adhesively-bonded joints for fiber-reinforced polymer composites. Int. J. Fatigue. 30(10), 1813–1820 (2008)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. BS 3691, E-Glass Fiber Roving for Reinforcement of Polyester and Epoxy resin System. (British Standard, London, 1990)

    Google Scholar 

  15. W. Hwang, K.S. Han, Fatigue of composites fatigue modulus concept and life prediction. J. Compos. Mater. 20(2), 154–165 (1986)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. K.S. Han, W. Hwang, Fatigue life prediction and failure mechanisms of composite materials. J. Adv. Compos. Mater. 2(1), 29–50 (1992)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This experimental investigation is in fact dedicated to our teacher, Dr. C.S. Venkatesha, Professor, U.B.D.T College of Engineering, who had died recently.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, B.N.M Institute of Technology, Bangalore, India

    C. Hemanth Kumar

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University B.D.T College of Engineering, Davangere, India

    R. P. Swamy

Authors
  1. C. Hemanth Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. P. Swamy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. Hemanth Kumar.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hemanth Kumar, C., Swamy, R.P. Experimental Investigation on the Fatigue Behavior of Glass Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Composites Under Rotating Bending Loads. J Fail. Anal. and Preven. 21, 582–587 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-020-01105-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-020-01105-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation