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In this study, the influence of boundary conditions on the buckling load for rectangular plates of various cutout shape, length/thickness ratio, and ply orientation is examined. Boundary conditions consisting of clamped, pinned, and their combinations are considered. Numerical and experimental studies are conducted to investigate the effect of boundary conditions, cutout shape, length/thickness ratio, and ply orientation on the buckling behavior of E-glass/epoxy composite plates under in-plane compression load. Buckling analysis of the laminated composites is performed by using finite element analysis software ANSYS. Tests have been carried out on laminated composites with circular and semicircular cutouts under various boundary conditions. Comparisons are made between the test results and predictions based on finite element analysis. The results show a complex interaction between plate orthotropy and boundary conditions.

In this study, an investigation was carried out to determine the effects of joint geometry and fiber orientation on the failure strength and failure mode in a pinned joint laminated composite plate. Behavior of pin-loaded laminated composites with different stacking sequence and different dimensions has been observed experimentally. E/glass-epoxy composites were manufactured to fabricate the specimens. Mechanical properties of the composites were characterized under tension, compression and in-plane shear in static loading conditions. Laminated composites were loaded through pins. Single-hole pin-loaded specimens were tested for their tensile response and width-tohole diameter (W/D) and edge distance-to-hole diameter (E/D) ratios evaluated. A series of experiments was performed with six different material configurations ([0/T45] s -[90/T45] s , [0/90/0] s -[90/0/90] s and [90/ 0] 2s -[T45] 2s ), in all, over 120 specimens. E/D ratios and W/D ratios of plates were changed from 1 to 5 and 2 to 5, respectively. Failure propagation and failure type were observed on the specimens. The influence of the joint geometry on the strength of the pin-loaded composites was assessed. When laminated composite plates were loaded to final failure, three basic failure modes consisting of net-tension, shear out and bearing failure were observed for the different geometric dimensions. All the connections tested showed that the fiber orientations have a definite influence on the position around hole circumference at which failure initiated. Net-tension failure occurred for specimens that had small width and large end distance. When the width was increased, the specimens which had small end distances failed in the shear-out modes. When the end distance was increased, bearing failure developed in addition to shear-out failure. The experimental results showed that the ultimate load capacities of E/glassepoxy laminate plates with pin connection were increased by increasing W and E. However, increasing the E/D and W/D ratios beyond a critical value has an insignificant effect on the ultimate load capacity of the connection.

Green composites, a bio‐based polymer matrix is reinforced by natural fibers, are special class of bio‐composites. Interest about green composites is continuously growing because they are environment‐friendly. This study describes the preparation and mechanical characterization of green composites using polylactic acid (PLA) matrix including chicken feather fiber (CFF) as reinforcement. Extrusion and an injection molding process were used to prepare CFF/PLA composites at a controlled temperature range. CFF/PLA composites with fiber mass content of 2%, 5%, and 10% were manufactured. The effects of fiber concentration and fiber length on mechanical properties of CFF/PLA composites have been studied. Mechanical properties of composites were investigated by tensile, compression, bending, hardness, and Izod impact testing. The results of experiments indicated that Young's modulus, compressive strength, flexural modulus, and hardness of the PLA reinforced CFF composites are higher but tensile strength, elongation at break, bending strength and impact strength of them are lower than pure PLA. The results indicate that these types of composites can be used for various applications. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:837–845, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers

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