Enhanced fatigue behavior of a glass fiber reinforced hybrid particles modified epoxy nanocomposite under WISPERX spectrum load sequence

• GFRP composite with hybrid particles modified epoxy matrix was fabricated.
• Spectrum fatigue tests were conducted on both neat and hybrid GFRP composites.
• The spectrum fatigue life of GFRP hybrid composite is enhanced by about 4–5 times.
• The constant amplitude fatigue tests conducted and CLD constructed for both composites.
• The spectrum fatigue lives were predicted and compared with the experimental observations.

Two types of glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) composites were fabricated viz., GFRP with neat epoxy matrix (GFRP-neat) and GFRP with hybrid modified epoxy matrix (GFRP-hybrid) containing 9 wt.% of rubber microparticles and 10 wt.% of silica nanoparticles. Fatigue tests were conducted on both the composites under WISPERX load sequence. The fatigue life of the GFRP-hybrid composite was about 4–5 times higher than that of GFRP-neat composite. The underlying mechanisms for improved fatigue performance are discussed. A reasonably good correlation was observed between the experimental fatigue life and the fatigue life predicted under spectrum loads.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide