Finite element modeling of glass particle reinforced epoxy composites under uniaxial compression and sliding wear

Abstract

In this study, the failure mechanism of glass particle epoxy composites was investigated under compression and sliding wear. Random fiber distribution with minimum interfiber distance was modeled by representative volume elements (RVEs). Spherical and platelet type glass particles were used for the reinforcements. A numerical simulation of the elastic properties of composites was performed for a perfectly bonded interface, and the results were compared using the Mori Tanaka mean field approach. The elastic stiffness results indicated that the platelet reinforced composites bore more load than spherical ones because of the aspect ratio effects. The separation distance based cohesive zone model was applied to modeling the failure zone at the particle matrix interfaces to establish sliding wear. The effect of the perfectly bonded interface and the cohesive zone interface on overall stiffness and elasto-plastic behavior were discussed. The cohesive zone interface was found to be effective at the interface in terms of the strength and debonding characteristics of the composites. The results were compared with the sliding wear test results of glass particle reinforced composites. The numerical and sliding wear experimental results indicated that matrix yield stress, plastic strain, particle penetration at the contact interface and particle stress are found to be effective parameters for the debonding mechanism.

An investigation of the mechanical characteristics of natural particle‐reinforced glass and epoxy composites after immersion in acidic and basic aging solutions

“…24 They noted that augmenting the filler ratio resulted in heightened tensile, flexural, and punch shear strengths within the composites. Recent studies have also examined the impacts of particle reinforcement on mechanical properties through tensile, 25,26 compression, 27,28 and bending 26,27,29 tests.…”