Study of Damping in Epoxy-Al2O3/Glass Composite Beams

Abstract

The current research aims to study the influence ofAlumina (Al2O3) filler reinforcements on the tensile and damping behavior of glass fiber/epoxy (GFRE) composites.The polymer composites are manufactured using hand lay-up technique. The volume fraction of Glass fiber is kept constant at 25% whereas the volume fraction of Al2O3 in the composites is varied in the percentages of 5, 10, 15 and 20. Tensile test is undertaken in an Universal testing machine and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS) of the samples is done in conjunction with FESEM to examine the fractured surface obtained after tensile test. The tensile strength and strain of the samples are calculated from the load vs extension data obtained from the UTM. It was found that tensile strength in creases with the increase in the percentage of alumina in the composite. Damping test of the samples are conducted and the images obtained from the DSO are analyzed. Half power band width method is used to evaluate the damping parameters from the obtained amplitude versus time plots. The results obtained are compared with the unfilled GFRE composite. It was found that Al2O3 filler composites are superior in comparison with the unfilled one.