Mechanical properties of tubular composites

In this study, tubular braided and filament-wound structures were produced using a Maypole braiding machine with glass fiber and then consolidated with unsaturated polyester resin using Vacuum Infusion Process (VIP). The compression tests were then conducted on all the specimens. Graphs of force-elongation were obtained and the failure work of the specimens were calculated. It was observed that filament-wound tubular composites have higher failure work than those of their braided counterparts with the same fiber volume fraction, which is due to the straight fiber structure in filament-wound structure compared with crimped fiber structures in braided composites. However, the drop of compressive properties after the impact was significantly higher in filament-wound composites than those of braided ones. The interlacing structure of fibers in braided composites controls the delamination and restricts the propagation of cracks in the structures after being subjected to impact loads, and causes a less drop in the compression properties of the composites

Keywords:

tubular composites , braiding , filament winding , impact , compression