The high-performance epoxy-based cocure manufacturing technique has been used to join composite structures such as wings, frames, and ribs in aerospace applications. The present study aims to examine the influence of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) addition on mechanical and free vibrational behavior of glass fiber reinforced polymer composites fabricated through cocure manufacture technique. The experimental results revealed that the addition of 1 wt.% of MWCNTs enriched the tensile and flexural properties of cocured composites by 27.8% (344 Mpa) and 26.16% (379.12 Mpa), respectively. Shear analysis depicted that 0.25 wt.% MWCNT reinforcement significantly enhanced the shear strength of cocured lap joints by 63.8% (16.79 MPa). The scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy indicated that homogenous dispersion of MWCNTs enriched the interfacial bonding, deviated the crack path, and formed uneven surfaces. A comparison between the failure mode of neat and modified adhesive demonstrated the effective presence of MWCNTs in changing the adhesive failure mode of cocured composite to cohesive. Thus, it enhanced the failure strength of cocured composites. The experimental free vibrational analysis affirmed that addition of 1 wt.% MWCNTs enhanced the fundamental natural frequency whereas, lower wt.% MWCNT addition increased the cocured composites' inherent damping due to higher-level formation of agglomeration area in the composite. Thus, it increased the stress level and minimized the bonding between fiber and matrix.
An effective manufacturing process and high‐performance composite structures are indispensable in the aerospace, automobile, and shipbuilding industries. The current study focuses on the combined effect of carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforcement and manufacturing methods such as co‐curing, co‐bonding, and secondary bonding (SB) on mechanical and free vibrational behavior of glass fiber reinforced plastic composite. Results affirmed that composite fabricated using co‐cure manufacturing method with 1 wt% CNT loading improved the tensile strength by 22.8%, 12.7% compared to co‐bonded and secondary bonded composites due to rougher surface formation over the fiber improved the adhesion between fiber and matrix. On the other hand, 0.25 wt% CNT added secondary bonded composite had the highest (398.19 MPa) flexural strength. The modal analysis asserted that 1 wt% CNT added co‐cured composite beam had the higher fundamental natural frequencies while higher wt% CNT loading enhanced the damping properties owing to higher interaction among fiber and matrix. The current study exposes that mechanical properties and free vibrational characteristics can be improved by selecting the right manufacturing technique and appropriate weight fractions of CNTs. The co‐cure manufacturing with 1 wt% of CNTs and SB with 0.25 wt% of CNTs provided the greatest enhancement to adhesively bonded composites' mechanical properties and dynamics characteristics.
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