Title: STUDY OF FABRIC DRAPING INDUCED NON-PARALLEL DISCONTINUITY ON COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF BI-DIRECTIONAL CARBON-EPOXY LAMINATE

Authors: Rajendra Kumar Gupta, Sunil V Nimje, Ramadas Chennamshetti, Felix Barla

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33599/GL.2026.INCOMAT.TP26-0008

Abstract: During fabric draping of complex shaped structures, discontinuity in continuous fabric joins at an angle. This introduces a change in the mechanical properties of layered composite structures, which are generally not considered during the structural analysis of large-scale products. In general practice, knock down factors are used over pristine values to accommodate the reduction in properties due to known parameters. In the present research work, an attempt has been made to study the effect of butt joint of two non-parallel plies on the compressive strength of bi-directional carbon-epoxy laminate. In order to study the effect of two different butt joint angles (α = 0°, 45°) on compressive strength of laminate, experimental study was carried out. Standard test specimens were fabricated as per ASTM D3410 with 16.67% discontinuous layers, along thickness, joining at an angle ‘α’ with respect to adjoining continuous layers. Static load testing at room temperature was performed. Test data shows 11.24 % to 17.19 % variation of compressive strength with respect to variation in ‘α’ from 45° to 0°, respectively. Finite element analyses for different joining angles ‘α’ have been also performed to establish the co-relation with experimental data and subsequently to generate data for other angles. The output of this research helps in accounting the reduction in compressive strength due to angled butt joint within the same fabric layer.

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Conference: INCOMAT 2026

Publication Date: 2026/03/13

SKU: INCOMAT.TP26-0008

Pages: 14

Price: $28.00