Advanced Materials Development and Performance (AMDP2011)

International Journal of Modern Physics: Conference Series

Vol. 6 (2012) 640-645
 World Scientific Publishing Company
DOI: 10.1142/S201019451200390X

TENSILE STRENGTH OF GLASS FIBER-REINFORCED PLASTIC BY FIBER

by 181.49.225.173 on 12/24/24. Re-use and distribution is strictly not permitted, except for Open Access articles.

ORIENTATION AND FIBER CONTENT VARIATIONS

Int. J. Mod. Phys. Conf. Ser. 2012.06:640-645. Downloaded from www.worldscientific.com

Jin-Woo Kim
NGV R&D Center, Gwangju Technopark, Chum-Dan Gwagiro 333, Buk-gu, Gwang-ju 500-706, South Korea
[email protected]

Hyoung-Seok Kim
Department of Advanced Parts and Materials Engineering, Chosun University Graduate School,
375 Seosuk-dong, Dong-gu, Gwang-ju 501-750, South Korea
[email protected]

Dong-Gi Lee*
Department of Mechatronics Engineering, Chosun University,
375 Seosuk-Dong, Dong-Gu, Gwangju, 501-759, South Korea
[email protected]

For unidirectional composite material, there is a theoretical mixture rule equation to calculate the
strength of composite from properties of matrix and fiber content. However, the equation for
tensile strength with the fiber content and the fiber orientation is not available. Therefore, this
study was investigated what affect fiber content and fiber orientation have on the strength of
composites. Glass fiber-reinforced plastic by changing fiber orientation and fiber content was
made. Tensile strength of 0° direction of composites increased being proportional fiber content
and fiber orientation function as change from isotropy (J=0) to anisotropy (J=1). But, tensile
strength of 90° direction by separation of fiber filament decreased when tensile load is imposed
for width direction of reinforcement fiber length direction. In this study, empirical equation to
estimate tensile strength out of fiber orientation and fiber content was proposed.

Keywords: Glass Fiber-Reinforced Plastic; Fiber Orientation Function; Fiber Content; Fiber
Orientation Angle.

1. Introduction
Glass fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) have great quality such as ratio of strength and
ratio of stiffness unlike metal materials and used in many areas because of improving the
strength by orienting in certain direction. And, it is possible to mold the parts because the
flexibility of molding is wide. The cost of production also can be decreased, because of
its high productivity. So, the use of molding of glass fiber-reinforced plastic is expanding

*
Corresponding author.
640
 Tensile Strength of GFRP Fiber Orientation and Fiber Content Variations 641

to the structural material of airplanes, cars, sports, and something related to energy
instead of molding of the press.1
Although it is natural that the character depends on the character of matrix, features
of material change depending on the fiber orientation, the length of fiber, the state of
tangled fiber, fiber mat structure, the condition of molding and property of impregnation
of matrix and reinforcement, and so on. Therefore it is the very important point to be
solved to make it clear what effect the fiber content and the fiber orientation have in
by 181.49.225.173 on 12/24/24. Re-use and distribution is strictly not permitted, except for Open Access articles.

GFRP when predict the design of material, the best condition of molding, and the feature
of machine. 2
Fiber orientation can happen by material factor such as intervening power of each
Int. J. Mod. Phys. Conf. Ser. 2012.06:640-645. Downloaded from www.worldscientific.com

fiber according to fiber diameter, the length of fiber, and molding factor such as closing
speed of mold, molding press, and the temperature of mold. The products press-molded
are not uniform because of fiber orientation and shows anisotropy, so it has a lot of
effects on the mechanical properties of molded products.3
And it presented a stiffness model to predict a modulus of elasticity of composite
materials reinforced with twisted fiber. It studied the intensity and transformation of high
strength polymer composite materials for cars, and manufacturing glass fiber-reinforced
PET base composite materials by high speed consolidation method.4-5
It is very important to clarity the accuracy of fiber orientation, after establishing the
quantity of fiber content and the measuring of fiber orientation angle, in order to get some
tips about dynamical feature of shaped products and material design. It studied effect of
fiber orientation on the tensile strength in glass fiber-reinforced polymeric composite
materials.6-8
When strength is required to some specification direction of car etc., fiber content
ratio and fiber orientation are circumstance that research about strength of composites is
insufficient. In this study, made GFRP using polypropylene as matrix and glass fiber as
reinforcement. Composites making by changing fiber orientation through calculating
fiber orientation function by theory.
There is a empirical equation that can evaluate the strength of composites using fiber
content and matrix properties in case of uni-directional composite, but the equation for
tensile strength according to fiber content and fiber orientation is not available. In this
study, the way to estimate tensile strength based on the actual results using different fiber
content and fiber orientation will be proposed.

2. Fiber Orientation Function

Now, compared with width and length, the thickness of molded composite is very thin so
we consider the fiber as a two dimensional set. In case when the fiber is distributed in
thin GFRP's x-y surface (plane), fiber angle θ with x axis ranges from 0 to π.
Accordingly, Fig. 1 shows the relationship of Eq. (1) between variable which shows fiber
orientation (hereinafter referred to as fiber orientation function J) and fiber orientation
angle, q(θ).9
 642 J.-W. Kim, H.-S. Kim & D.-G. Lee

1
1  1  J  1 J  2 
q ( )    cos   
2
 sin   (1)
  1  J  1 J  
where, J is a fiber orientation function which indicates two-dimensional fiber orientation.
Let the x axis, the direction of resin flow, is 0. If the fiber runs parallel with the flow,
fiber orientation function J is 1 and if the fiber runs at a right angle to the flow, J is -1. In
this way, fiber orientation function J ranged from 0 to 1 and if J approaches to 0, fiber
by 181.49.225.173 on 12/24/24. Re-use and distribution is strictly not permitted, except for Open Access articles.

orientation will be randomized.

Fiber orientation efficiency ( J ) is calculated by following Eq. (2):
Int. J. Mod. Phys. Conf. Ser. 2012.06:640-645. Downloaded from www.worldscientific.com

Strength by fiber orientation

J  (2)
Strength of one - direction

(a) J=0 (b) J=0.2 (c) J=0.5

(d) J=0.8 (e) J=1

Fig. 1. Schematic representation of long fibers distributed in two dimensions (10wt%).

3. Experimental Procedure
Glass fiber was reinforced to polypropylene for press molding. Used thermo-compression
press (Carver Model 2518, USA), the molding temperature is 210℃. GFRP is the
accumulated state of fiber layer and polypropylene layer depending on the change of
fiber content and fiber orientation. A fiber orientation function (J) is calculated
theoretically by Eq. (1) changes every 0.1 interval between 0 and 1 and fiber content
 Tensile Strength of GFRP Fiber Orientation and Fiber Content Variations 643

changes 10 wt%, 20 wt%, 30 wt%, and 40 wt%. Glass fiber used in this experiment is the
E-glass yarn (filament diameter: 13μm, Tex 1359/1,000m) of The Korea Fiber Company.
It was carried out strength test referring to ASTM D638 standard to measure the
strength value of GFRP which are molded according to the each change of fiber
orientation. It was used UTM (Housnsfield, Load Cell: 5ton, U.K.) as a material testing
machine in measuring, and set the cross head speed 1mm/min.

4. Experimental Result and Concideration

by 181.49.225.173 on 12/24/24. Re-use and distribution is strictly not permitted, except for Open Access articles.

Fig. 2 shows the relation of fiber orientation function and tensile strength (σθ) which is
made by changing fiber content and fiber orientation. In this picture, tensile strength
Int. J. Mod. Phys. Conf. Ser. 2012.06:640-645. Downloaded from www.worldscientific.com

increases consistently from isotropy meaning fiber orientation random to anisotropy

meaning one direction. Fiber content is 10wt%, the strength value goes up about 33MPa
more in case of J=1 than J=0. Fiber content is 20wt%, the strength value goes up about
53MPa more in case of J=1 than J=0. Fiber content is 30wt%, the strength value goes up
about 61MPa more in J=1 than J=0. Fiber content is 40wt%, the strength value goes up
about 76MPa more in J=1 than J=0.
It is lower than the value of tensile strength of raw matrix by the separation of fiber
filament when it is loaded in the vertical direction of reinforced fiber. And, the intensity
values of composite are similar in fiber orientation function J=0.7 regardless of fiber
content.
Fig. 3 shows the relation of fiber orientation function (J) and tensile strength ratio
(σ[0˚]/ σ[90˚]) in vertical and horizontal direction of fiber orientation. Because reinforced
fiber absorbs most external force, the increase of fiber content in loaded direction means
the increase of strength efficiency.
However, the strength efficiency is decreasing, when it is loaded in vertical direction
of fiber orientation, because reinforced fiber is separated. But, tensile strength ratio by
fiber separation of 90° directions decreased when tensile strength is imposed for width
direction of reinforcement fiber. 0° and 90° direction tensile strength ratio value of
composites not receive almost effect of fiber content of fiber orientation function J=0.4
lows. 20wt% of fiber content is high about 0° and 90° direction tensile strength ratio
about 2 times than 10wt% from J=0.4. 30wt% of fiber content is high about 0° and 90°
direction tensile strength ratio about 1.4 times than 20wt%. 40wt% of fiber content is
high about 0° and 90° direction tensile strength ratio about 1.2 times than 30wt%.
Fig. 4 shows fiber orientation effect increases as fiber orientation function increases.
Fiber orientation efficiency ( J ) appears similarly when fiber content is 10wt%, 20wt%,
30wt%, and 40wt%. Effect of fiber content does not receive and fiber orientation causes a
lot of effects. Therefore, when compare J=1 with fiber orientation function J=0.1, about
60% appears high than J=0.1 when fiber orientation efficiency is J=1.
To determine empirical equation for tensile strength of GFRP, tensile strength of
composites in 0° and 90° direction is fitted with least square method using polyfit. For
90°, non-linear least square method is applied. With consideration of fiber orientation
function and fiber content, the following equation is proposed by substituting fiber
 644 J.-W. Kim, H.-S. Kim & D.-G. Lee

orientation function and fiber content from this study. On Fig. 5 and 6, the estimated
values for tensile strength are compared with the actual results. For both of figures, the
estimations are coincided with the actuals.
 [ 0]  1.12{( wt %  10)  ( wt %  22.32) J } (3)

 [ 90]  (11.4  1.15wt %)e ( 0.0340.0402 wt %) J (4)

by 181.49.225.173 on 12/24/24. Re-use and distribution is strictly not permitted, except for Open Access articles.
Int. J. Mod. Phys. Conf. Ser. 2012.06:640-645. Downloaded from www.worldscientific.com

Fig. 2. Relationship between tensile strength (σθ) Fig. 3. Relationship between tensile strength ratio (σ[0˚]/
and fiber orientation function J. σ[90˚]) and fiber orientation function J.

Fig. 4. Relationship between efficiency of fiber orientation (  J ) and fiber orientation function J.
 Tensile Strength of GFRP Fiber Orientation and Fiber Content Variations 645
by 181.49.225.173 on 12/24/24. Re-use and distribution is strictly not permitted, except for Open Access articles.
Int. J. Mod. Phys. Conf. Ser. 2012.06:640-645. Downloaded from www.worldscientific.com

Fig. 5. Relationship between tensile strength(σ[0˚]) of Fig. 6. Relationship between tensile strength(σ[90˚]) of
experimental equation and tensile strength of tensile experimental equation and tensile strength of tensile test.
test.

5. Conclusion
From tensile strength by glass fiber-reinforced plastic by fiber orientation and fiber
content variations, the following conclusions were acquired. Tensile strength of 0°
directions increased being proportional fiber content and fiber orientation function as
change from isotropy to anisotropy. But, tensile strength ratio by separation of fiber
filament of 90° directions tensile strength decreased when tensile load is imposed for
width direction of reinforcement fiber. Fiber orientation efficiency effects of fiber content
do not receive and fiber orientation cause a lot of effects. The empirical equation to
estimate tensile strength out of fiber orientation and fiber content was proposed.

References
1. J. W. Kim. (D. G. Lee et al.), Key Engine. Mater. 297-300, 2897 (2005).
2. J. W. Kim and D. G. Lee, Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China. 21, 170 (2011).
3. Y. M. Ryu. (S. H. Lee et al.), Trans. KSAE. 6, 32 (1998).
4. J. W. Kim. (D. G. Lee et al.), Mater. Research Innovations. 15, 303 (2011).
5. J. H. Byun. (T. W. Kim et al.), KSCM. 15, 6, 30 (2002).
6. J. K. Lim. (H. Takeda et al.), Trans, of KSME (A). 25, 1082 (2001).
7. I. J. Shin. (H. G. Kim et al.), Trans. of KSME (A). 26, 813 (2002).
8. J. H. Lee, Trans. KSAE. 4, 206 (1996).
9. J. W. Kim and D. G. Lee, J. Mater. Processing Technol. 201, 755 (2008).