STRENGTH CHARACTERIZATION OF GLASSCARON HYBRID REINFORCEMENTS - AN EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION

This study aims to characterize and quantify the mechanical properties of hybrid reinforcements which have been introduced in the research field of polymer composites as a facelift. Hybrid reinforcement is the fusion of more than one type of material into one element. A combination of glass and carbon in the ratio of 60:40 is used as Hybrid reinforcement in this study. The carbon fiber is used as the inner core surrounded with glass fiber using epoxy thermo set resin. This present work is mainly centered on the tensile and transverse shear strength of glass-carbon Hybrid reinforcements. Hybridisation offers a profitable mode for manufacturing a product with reduced cost, high specific modulus, strength, corrosion resistance and in many cases excellent thermal stability. Based on the-way of fabrication, different types of hybrid composites can be prepared. The current study presents the experiments that has been carried out on 8 mm diameter hybrid rods using ASTM (American Society for testing and Methods) standards. The results were compared with 10 mm Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) reinforcements and 10 mm Conventional (steel) reinforcements. From the experimental observation, it has been found out that hybrid reinforcement exhibits a tensile strength 1.5 to 2.0 times higher than GFRP and Conventional reinforcements. Similarly, hybrid reinforcement performs slightly greater Transverse shear strength than GFRP and Conventional reinforcements respectively.