Damage characterization of GFRP composite on exposure to cyclic loading by acoustic emission

Abstract

Cross ply (0/90/90/0) and angle ply (0/30/60/0) glass fibre reinforced epoxy (GFRP) composite laminates were exposed to constant amplitude cyclic loading at 8.6 Hz with varying load cycles. The load is imposed on the specimen to simulate the load (considering road tyre interaction) on a leaf of automobile leaf spring. The flexural modulus of the virgin and pre­loaded specimen were obtained by three point bend test as per ASTM D 790. With both the laminates, a reduction in the flexural modulus was observed on exposure to cyclic loading. During flexural trials the response of the material to flexure loading was assessed by monitoring the acoustic emission (AE) from the specimen under flexure. The intrinsic analysis of AE results, exhibited the influence of the fibre orientation in controlling the damage transfer and the extent of damages like matrix cracking, debonding, delamination and fibre failure.

Keywords

• gfrp laminate
• cyclic loading
• flexural modulus
• acoustic emission