Out-of-plane effect of stacking sequences on crack resistance and energy absorption of glass fiber vinyl ester composite: Experimental

ABSTRACT In fiber composites manufacturing, the laminate stacking sequences is one of the most complex design parameters affecting the overall properties of the final parts. However, due to the big number of fibers, matrix, parts geometries, and the number of possible combinations, there is still a need of data on the effect of stacking sequences, on crack resistance and energy absorption capability of fiber composites. Most of the works done so far to understand this effect were made using either carbon or glass fibers combined with epoxy, or with polyester resin while, very few involve the vinyl ester resin, very popular in industries, but mostly in case of filaments winding processes, instead of vacuum assisted resin infusion (VARI) processes, or hand layup processes, as it is the case for epoxy and polyester resin. In this work, we will investigate the out-of-plane effect of stacking sequences, on crack resistance and energy absorption capability of short-beam, made of unidirectional glass fiber vinyl ester composite. We conducted an experimental investigation under three-point-bending loads, with samples of composite manufactured using the VARI process, and according to the following stacking sequences: [0]16, [01/903]2S, [02/902]2S, [03/901]2S, [90]16, [901/03]2S, [902/02]2S and [903/01]2S. This work can be part of the database in case of research on out-of-plane behavior of thin-walled structures, made of unidirectional glass fiber vinyl ester composite.