The effect of fibre diameter on the dynamic properties of glass-fibre-reinforced polyester resin

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Abstract
The effect of fibre diameter on the mechanical properties of unidirectional composites was investigated using a glass/polyester system. The specimens were vibrated in flexure and longitudinal shear, and finally tested to destruction in interlaminar shear. To allow for changes in fibre diameter at constant fibre volume fraction, the surface area of fibre per unit volume, Af, was defined. It was found that the fibre diameter had no significant effect on Young's modulus in flexure, nor on the longitudinal shear modulus and damping. However, there was a pronounced variation of flexural damping with fibre diameter and fibre volume fraction, and hence with Af. The interlaminar shear strength was low for small values of Af, but rapidly tended to an average of about 56 MN m−2.