Stress analysis of vascularized glass fiber composites exposed to bending loading

Abstract

Vacant vascular channels within fiber-reinforced composites offer various functionalities ranging from self-repair and healing, damage detection, to thermal management. However, these channels affect the structure of the composite and can alter the stress distribution when subjected to mechanical loads. This study aims to investigate the bending load on these vascularized channels produced by the removable solid wire technique. The tests were conducted with the samples with and without channel according to ASTM D7264. Interestingly, the vascularized samples showed a higher maximum flexural modulus and stress than the non-vascularized ones. A three-dimensional finite element model was developed to analyze the stresses at the regions close to the channel. The results revealed the effect of the stacking sequence on the stress distribution. Investigation of stresses near the resin-rich region, generated due to the opened channel, showed that this region is not significantly affected by bending in contrast to the transverse loading.

Keywords:

• microvascular channels
• glass fibers
• reinforced composites
• three-point bending
• finite element model

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr Alison Burrows for English editing.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.