Effect of torsional strain-rate and lay-up sequences on the performance of hybrid composite shafts

• Steel tubing can be used for torsion test of composite shafts.
• Effect of angular velocity on the torsional of composite tubes is not significant.
• Lay-up sequence of hybrid layers changes the torsional strength.
• Hybridization may broaden the ability of mechanical property tailoring.
• The experimental and FE results exhibited sufficient agreement.

In this study, the torsional behavior of hybrid composite shafts was examined by a combined experimental and numerical approach. Glass and carbon fiber reinforced hybrid shafts with three lay-up sequences were manufactured using filament winding technique. All three shafts had same amount of glass and carbon fiber. Angular velocities of 0.1°/min and 5°/min were used as torsion test speeds. The effect of torsional strain-rate and lay-up sequences on the response of hybrid shafts was studied. Torque–twisting angle changes were recorded. Test results revealed that changing angular velocities did not affect the torsional behavior of composite shafts significantly. However, three different lay-up sequences resulted in remarkably different torsional behavior.Torsional behavior of composite shafts was simulated using Finite Element (FE) software, Abaqus. The elastic orthotropic composite model was used for simulations. FE models were validated using experimental test results. Numerically and experimentally obtained results exhibited quite similar torsional behavior.