Determination of Strength Parameters of Glass Fibers Reinforced Composites for Engineering Applications

The manufacturing of the composite material has been developed tremendously over the years due to its superior properties like low density, stiffness, lightweight and excellent mechanical as well as physical properties. These exceptional properties of composite materials have found its applications widely in aerospace, automotive, marine and many more engineering areas. The synthesis of the varieties of composites is continuously lookout without compromising its mechanical and physical properties. This paper deals in with synthesis as well as mechanical properties (Tensile Strength, Flexural Properties and Fatigue) of Glass-Epoxy as well as Glass-Vinyl Ester composites. The resins used in combination of composites were epoxy as well as Vinyl Ester while the reinforced material was glass fibers. The ultimate tensile strength in Glass-Epoxy composite was observed from 330 to 370 MPa while it was 270 to 330 MPa for Glass-Vinyl Ester Composites. Glass-Epoxy composites showed a 32% increase in flexural strength due to post-curing strength while it was 16% in case of Glass-Vinyl Ester Composites. The results of the fatigue analysis of composites indicate faster growth of cracks and defects at higher frequencies which results in a rapid drop in stress levels in the test specimen. The statistical analysis was carried out to establish mutual correlation among mechanical as well as physical properties.