Viscoelastic Behavior of Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Silicone Composites Exposed to Cyclic Loading

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Engineering
• Composite Materials

Background:

• Fiber-reinforced elastomers are crucial in applications requiring flexibility and strength.
• Understanding structure-property relationships under cyclic loading is key for material design.
• Silicone matrix composites with glass fiber reinforcement offer unique performance potential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of fiber orientation on the mechanical behavior of fiber-reinforced elastomers under cyclic loading.
• To characterize the dynamic mechanical and viscoelastic properties of these composites.
• To evaluate structure-property interactions in tailored reinforced elastomers.

Main Methods:

• Development of a novel testing device for flexible composite characterization.
• Dynamic mechanical analysis considering fiber orientation.
• Modified step cycle tests under tensile loading to assess viscoelastic behavior, stress relaxation, and energy dissipation.
• Evaluation of strain rate, strain amplitude, and cycle number effects.

Main Results:

• Optimized fiber orientation resulted in a 30-fold increase in stiffness.
• The bearable stress capacity was enhanced by a factor of 10.
• Fiber reinforcement significantly influences mechanical performance and structural properties.

Conclusions:

• Tailored fiber-reinforced elastomers with endless fibers demonstrate substantial improvements in mechanical performance.
• Optimized fiber orientation is critical for maximizing stiffness and stress tolerance.
• The study provides insights into structure-property interactions for advanced composite design.