Strain rate and temperature dependence of hybrid composites under compressive loading

Abstract

Discontinuous short fibre composites are becoming more attractive to the automotive industry due to their lower cost when compared to traditional continuous reinforced composites [1]. Short fibre composites have lower mechanical properties due to their fibre length limiting the load transferred between the matrix and fibres [2], however, short fibres allow for greater material flow and therefore more complex geometries [3]. Hybridisation is a method of increasing the mechanical performance of short fibre composites. Some studies have looked into hybridisation of composites [4], however, most of the literature available focuses on thermoset composites, and no studies have been carried out to look at the strain rate or temperature dependency of hybrid composites