The Comparison of Micro Mechanics Analyses to Some Empirical Properties of Ukam (Cochlospermum Planconii) Fibre Reinforced Polyester Composite

Ogbodo O Joy (1) , Ihom P Aondona (2) , Dennis O Onah (1)

1 SEDI - Scientific Equipment Development Institute
2 Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

The comparison of micro mechanics analyses to some empirical properties of cochlospermum planchonii (ukam) fibre reinforced polyester composite has been undertaken. The study developed the composites, which were characterized, and empirical values were generated. The polyester and the ukam fibre, which were used in the manufacture of the composites via weight fractions were also characterized. The properties of the polyester and ukam fibre were then used in the micro mechanics analyses of the developed composites. The study revealed that reinforcement-matrix proportion played a major role in composite property determination. This was observed from both the empirical properties measured and the micro mechanics analyses. It was also observed that micro mechanics analyses did not agree with empirical properties in all cases; this the study revealed that it was because of the complex nature of the interactions between parameters responsible for properties in composites. The study has indicated that where micro mechanics analyses agree with empirical property of the composite the law of mixtures can be used to predict the property of the composite. Introduction. According to [11] the fabrication and properties of composites are strongly influenced by the proportions and properties of the matrix and the reinforcement. The proportions can be expressed either via the weight fraction (), which is relevant to fabrication, or via the volume fraction (), which is commonly used in property calculation. The definitions of and are related simply to the ratios of weight (W) or volume (V) as shown below.

Mots clés: law of mixtures; proportions; polyester; Ukam fibre; micromechanics analyses; composites; properties; reinforcement

Domaines: Mécanique des matériaux [physics.class-ph]

Ogbodo O Joy, Ihom P Aondona, Dennis O Onah. The Comparison of Micro Mechanics Analyses to Some Empirical Properties of Ukam (Cochlospermum Planconii) Fibre Reinforced Polyester Composite. Mechanics, Materials Science & Engineering Journal, 2017, 10, pp.7-16. ⟨10.2412/mmse.22.16.844⟩. ⟨hal-01574361⟩