Experimental and analytical study of buckling strength of new quaternary hybrid nanocomposite using Taguchi method for optimization

• Investigating the effect of three variables on the buckling force of nanocomposite.
• Taguchi method was selected in order to design experiments.
• The fiber orientation was the most effective parameter.
• Observing synergistic effect with the addition of CNT and clay as nano fillers.

In the current study the influence of three independent variables (carbon fiber orientation, nano clay and CNT wt%) on the buckling force of hybrid laminated nanocomposite was investigated. Taguchi method was selected in order to design experiments. Each variable had four designed levels and L16 orthogonal array was chosen for designing. Samples were prepared according to the designed levels obtained from the software and buckling tests were done on each sample, and the collected results obtained from the tests were generated in a designed Taguchi worksheet in Minitab software. Results showed that the maximum and minimum value of buckling load occurred at levels 2 and 16 respectively. Analysis of variance for signal to noise ratios described that the fiber orientation was the most effective parameter with probability value more than 99%. The CNT and clay content were standing on the next step respectively. Furthermore, the synergistic effect was observed with the addition of two nano fillers. From 2D contour plots, it was concluded that two component interactions fiber orientation/nanoclay and fiber orientation/CNT had the reverse effect on buckling load properties while the interaction between nano clay and the CNT had a synergistic effective term. Moreover, the results obtained from experimental tests were compared with the results obtained from analytical analysis, and it was concluded that the buckling load for certain laminated composite with carbon fiber orientation 600 was about 495 N, which was close to the analytical value (523 N).

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