Hamed Khosravi - Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran - Department of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran
reza eslami-farsani - Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

In the present study, the effect of silane-modified nanoclay addition on the flexural behavior of E-glass/epoxy isogrid-stiffened composite (IGSC) panels was empirically examined. The nanoparticles with different weight percentages (0, 1, 3, and 5) were dispersed into the epoxy matrix using mechanical stirring and ultrasonic waves. In order to study the surface functionalization of the nanoclay particles, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was employed. Obtained results indicated that the addition of nanoclay particles caused the significantly improvement in the flexural properties of IGSC panels. Compared with control specimen, with the addition of 5 wt.% of nanoclay, maximum load, stiffness and energy absorption were enhanced by 24, 32 and 34%, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations of the fracture surface of the specimens revealed that the improvement in the flexural properties for the specimens containing nanoclay was due to the improvement in interfacial adhesion of E-glass fibers and epoxy matrix as well as the improving the matrix mechanical characteristics.

Isogrid-stiffened composite panels- Nanoclay- Flexural properties- Energy absorption