Quantifying the influence of reinforcement architecture on the planar mechanical properties of 3D-printed continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites

3D-printed thermoplastic parts with continuous fiber reinforcement are known to offer mechanical performance that is highly dependent on design variables and printing parameters. In this work, the role of the reinforcement distribution on the mechanical response of glass fiber-reinforced thermoplastics printed using the fused filament fabrication (FFF) technique is evaluated. Laminates with alternating and continuous reinforcement architecture as well as different fiber orientations such as isotropic (0 degrees, 90 degrees, and 45 degrees) and concentric configurations are characterized from monotonic tensile and flexural loads. The resulting superior macromechanical performance in terms of higher stiffness and strength achieved in samples reinforced with alternating fiber plies is correlated with the micromechanical fractography characteristics and interlaminar shear capacity.