Effect of (Al2O3) on Flexural Analysis of Polymer Matrix Composite Reinforced by Unidirectional Glass Fiber

Abstract

The flexural analysis of the composite specimens made from polymer matrix composite that was reinforced with different volume fractions of glass fiber and alumina powder (Al₂O₃) were studied here experimentally and numerically by using the finite element method. The composite specimens employed in this research made three ratios of volume fraction of glass fiber and five ratios of volume fraction of alumina powder (Al₂O₃). The results illustrated that the deflection increases in a linear relationship with an increase of the load, while decreases in a nonlinear relationship with an increase in the volume fraction of (glass) and (Al2O3) for both experimental and numerical studies. The maximum value of deflection for the specimen equals 1.85 mm at Vf of (glass) = 10% only and without Vf of (Al2O3). While the minimum value of deflection equals 0.392 mm at Vf of (glass) = 30% and Vf of (Al₂O₃) = 5% for the same value of load = 10 N and for experimental results.