Search

Highlights In this study, the axial crushing response and energy‐absorbing mechanisms of circular composite tubes, which were reinforced by carbon fiber (C10) and carbon/glass hybrids (C3G4C3), were investigated experimentally and numerically. Both samples exhibited similar crushing responses comprising delamination and intralayer shear failure. The impact kinetic energy is primarily converted into frictional and composite damage energies. C3G4C3 had poorer crashworthiness with a mean crushing force and specific energy absorption of 313.3 kN and 58.0 kJ/kg, which are by 39.3% and 30.8% less, respectively, than those of C10. The influence of glass fiber reinforced polymers (GFRP) content (hybrid ratio) and stacking sequence on tubal crashworthiness was investigated numerically. For composite tubes with a hybrid ratio of 40%, the central distribution of GFRP (C3G4C3) achieved optimal energy absorption performance. Additionally, when GFRP layers were centralized stacked, a reduction of the hybrid ratio from 60% (G3C4G3) to 20% (GC8G) helped improve the crashworthiness of the hybrid tubes, where the mean crushing force increased by 23%. Impact responses of composite tubes reinforced by carbon fiber and carbon/glass hybrids were investigated experimentally and numerically. Carbon/glass hybrid tubes exhibited lower crashworthiness. The effects of stacking sequence and hybrid ratio on the energy absorption performance were studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the post‐buckling damage behavior of cylindrical composite tubes was examined experimentally. The samples were reinforced with glass, carbon, and kevlar fibers to obtain glass‐reinforced fiber polymer (GRFP), carbon‐reinforced fiber polymer (CRFP), and Kevlar‐reinforced fiber polymer (KRFP) cylindrical tubes. The samples were produced using 4 stacking layers with filament winding technology. In producing all composite tubes, the outer diameter was kept constant at 17 mm, and two inner diameters of 12 and 13 mm, two wall thicknesses, 5 winding angles, and two lengths were used as parameters. The load was applied to the samples until completely damaged, and the maximum post‐buckling load values obtained were measured on the testing device. The effect of different reinforcement materials, winding angle, wall thickness, and length on the load‐carrying capacity was analyzed and it was understood that they had a significant effect. It was observed that the load‐carrying capacity of GFRP samples was the highest compared to the others, followed by CFRP and KFRP samples, respectively. In all samples, it was observed that a 0.5 mm wall thickness increase increased the load‐carrying capacity, while a 50 mm length increase decreased it. The energy absorption (EA) values of GFRP, CFRP, and KFRP samples were 46.99, 25.22, and 15.48 Joules, respectively. It was understood that the energy absorption of GFRP samples was 1.86 times better than CFRP and 3 times better than KFRP. Highlights: The samples were produced using the fiber winding method, which is one of the most common production methods in the manufacture of tubes.Three different polymer reinforcement materials were used in the production of the samples.The effects of polymer reinforcement material, winding angle, length, and wall thickness on the maximum post‐buckling load were investigated.Wall thickness was found to have a significant effect on the maximum post‐buckling load.It was observed that GFRP samples had the highest energy absorption feature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kevlar, Carbon and fiber glass are widely used in various kind of industries because of their superior properties like; great stiffness, high strength, wear resistance and low density those benefits contributed to increase their usage in different fields like electronics, automobile, aerospace and civil engineer. This study is carried out to improve the creep behavior of epoxy composite materials by incorporating two type of fiber for reinforcement using Hand-layup techniques. Sika epoxy resin is mixed once with Kevlar fibers, and once with Carbon fiber to produce a composite material. Experimental and numerical simulation are carried out to provide an extensive knowledge of the creep behavior of epoxy composite materials at various weight ratio. Visco-elastic materials creep strain and stress relaxation are analyzed utilizing Prony and Burger models. Based on the results, the addition of Carbon and Kevlar fibers to Sika epoxy composite increase its mechanical characteristics compare to pure epoxy. Carbon fiber possesses lowest creep strain and low stress level than Kevlar fibers. Sika epoxy composite containing 5% weight fraction of Carbon fiber has the highest resistance to creep, up to 80% more, compared with Sika epoxy; followed by Kevlar fiber which is up to 75% more, compared with Sika epoxy. The use of Carbon/Sika epoxy composite results in higher creep compliance and modulus of elasticity compared with Kevlar/Sika epoxy composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Short-fiber reinforcement is a potent approach to improving the material properties of injection-molded parts. The main consideration in such reinforced materials is to preserve the fiber length, as this is the major influence on the properties of a given composite. The aim of this work was to investigate the different influencing parameters in injection molding processing on the properties of short carbon and glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene. We investigated parameters like melt temperature and back pressure, but also machine size and pre-heating regarding their influence on the tensile properties. We found that adjustments of melt temperature and back pressure only yield small improvements in the fiber length and the tensile properties, also depending on machine size, but a pre-heating step of the granules can significantly improve the properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the manufacturing processes for structural supercapacitors (SSCs) using smear molding (RS), resin transfer molding (RTM), and vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM). Woven carbon fibers were used as the electrode, woven glass fibers as an insulating layer, and an alkaline/epoxy compound as the electrolyte. In the RTM process, due to the vacuum and the high-pressure injection of the electrolyte, the electrochemical and mechanical properties of the SSC can be greatly improved, and the void contents in the SSC can be reduced. The balanced electrochemical performance and mechanical properties of SSCs were observed in the range of epoxy content from 15 wt% to 30 wt%. This study contributes to the development of SSCs through the establishment of the fabrication process for improvements in part quality. The fabrication method demonstrated here can be directly applied by industries to produce even larger-scale SSCs, opening up new possibilities for practical implementation and scalability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, glass-carbon hybrid fibre reinforced polymer matrix composite is proposed to use in solar greenhouse dryer trays. The effects of hybridization on compressive instability failure are analysed by varying the glass fiber volume percentage in a composite. The study examines the compressive instability failure of the composite, considering the non-linear constitutive behaviour of the polymer matrix and initial morphological defects. Each glass and carbon fiber is modelled using 3D finite element micromechanical models. Linear buckling analysis is conducted with appropriately scaled faults. The Thermal analysis to determine heat distribution over the tray, carried out using COMSOL Multiphysics tool, solar greenhouse dryers are used to dehydrate agricultural products, preserving them for longer periods and improving their market value. The materials used in these dryer trays must meet specific performance criteria to ensure optimal drying conditions. In Greenhouse solar dryers, two commonly used tray configurations such as Stable Tray-Assisted Dryer (STAD) and Rotatable Tray-Assisted Dryer (RTAD) are considered in this study and the glass-carbon hybrid composite used in solar greenhouse dryer trays Introduced as Hybrid composite Rotatable Tray-Assisted Dryer (HRTAD), offers significant contributions by ensuring uniform and effective moisture removal and their excellent strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, heat resistance, sustainability, and long life. These properties make them a dependable and effective solution for building solar dryer components, assuring optimal performance and contributing to the overall success of solar greenhouse systems. Hybrid glass fiber composites offer several advantages that make them particularly suitable for this application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reliable anchorage and long‐term durability of high‐performance fiber reinforced polymer composites were the decisive factors for engineering applications owing to the anisotropy of materials and the complexity of service environment. In this paper, an innovative glass fiber reinforced polypropylene (GFRPP) self‐anchor plate cable was developed to utilize the high toughness/durability of thermoplastic resin and self‐anchor load‐bearing system. The effects of different reinforcement methods and cable arc angles (10°, 20°, and 30°) on mechanical properties of plate cable were investigated. Water absorption behavior and mechanical properties immersed in alkali solution were tested to evaluate its long‐term service behavior. The thermogravimetric and surface morphology analysis were conducted to reveal the performance evolution mechanism. The results showed through the combination of secondary melting, carbon fiber winding confinement and epoxy reinforcements, the splitting failure of transition zone and interlaminar cracking failure of straight zone for plate cable were effectively avoided. The tensile strength retention of plate cable for arc angles of 10°, 20° and 30° were 45.6%, 41.3%, and 34.0% of GFRPP plate, respectively. Larger arc angle increased the curvature of arc‐straight transition zone and stress concentration near the straight section, leading to interlaminar splitting failure of plate cable at weak transition zone. The tensile strength of plate cable with the immersion time deteriorated obviously until the lowest retention of 29.7%. The degradation mechanism was mainly due to the etching of glass fibers in alkali solution and the formation of pores and internal defects, including fiber/resin interface debonding and resin swelling. The research results were of significance for solving the anchoring problems and promoting the long‐term service reliability in bridge applications. Highlights: The mold can realize reliable molding of glass fiber reinforced polypropylene cables after the reinforcements.The tensile strength retention of plate cable was up to 34.0%–45.6% of plate.Larger arc angle increased the stress concentration near the straight section.Non‐polar polypropylene plate was proved to have better hydrophobic performance.The degradation mechanism of plate cable in alkali solution was revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of geometric scaling on the strain rate sensitivity of unidirectional and [+45/−45]s laminates under uniaxial tensile loading has been investigated experimentally. Two material systems, Toray T800/3900-2B carbon/epoxy unitape and Newport NB321/7781 fiberglass/epoxy fabric, were used in the study. The nominal strain rates investigated ranged from quasi-static (0.0002 s−1) to moderate strain rates of 50 s−1 across the scaled specimen geometries. The geometric scaling effects at different strain rates were quantified in terms of the Weibull modulus. At each strain rate, the average failure stress of [0]4 carbon, [0]4 fiberglass, and [±45]s fiberglass showed a declining trend with increasing specimen size. However, the percentage of the strength reduction was less significant at higher strain rates compared to the quasi-static strain rate. In contrast to the other stacking sequences, [+45/−45]s carbon specimens showed a maximum percentage in strength reduction at a high strain rate compared to the quasi-static strain rate, indicating increased scaling effect with strain rate. The magnitude of Weibull modulus (m) for the specimens increased with strain rate indicating diminishing scaling effects, while [+45/−45]s carbon specimens exhibited an opposite trend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐performance engineering thermoplastics are important emerging materials, particularly when processed using additive manufacturing technologies. One of the most important among these is polyetherimide, also known as PEI or ULTEM. Using the fused filament fabrication (FFF) additive manufacturing (AM) process to form this material is a good option, but it is difficult to control the properties in some cases due to the very high processing temperature compared with most engineering thermoplastics. One way to "even‐out" the properties is to wrap the specimens in continuous glass or carbon fibers embedded in a thermosetting matrix, as this allows strategic placement and orientation of reinforcement. This also complements the natural structure of the FFF‐manufactured materials, helping to minimize the amount of additional weight that needs to be added to a part. To further knowledge in this area, the present study explored and compared the interlaminar tensile strength of FFF‐processed PEI/ULTEM 9085 specimens and compared them with ones wrapped in carbon fibers with a 2‐part resin matrix. Experiments were performed in accordance with the guidelines given in the ASTM D6415 standard and replicated five times. Variations were introduced in thickness of the specimen and raster angle during the manufacturing process to identify the significant impact of the failure. The results show a fall in interlaminar tensile strength with increasing specimen thickness and a very large effect from natural printing defects in the samples. The carbon fiber wrap decreased the ILTS but made the results far more consistent between experimental runs. This study provides a good, replicated dataset on the performance of raw and fiber‐wrapped FFF‐processed ULTEM 9085 and gives insights into the structural behavior of the material that will be useful for use in design decisions and material selection. Highlights: Polyetherimide, also known as PEI/ULTEM, is a high‐performance engineering thermoplastic.Explored the interlaminar tensile properties (ILTS) of this material using ASTM D6415.Raster angle, thickness, and use of fiber wrap were experimental parameters.Fiber wrap was found to have little effect on strength but made results more consistent.Results are useful for material selection and design decisions using PEI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Materiae Compositae Sinica is the property of Acta Materiea Compositae Sinica Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Due to the requirements of high stiffness and impact strength of HDPE pipes, in this article, long fiber reinforced HDPE were developed and the effects of fiber length, volume fraction, types, and matrix/fiber interface on the mechanical properties were investigated. Tensile properties, notched impact strength, as well as microstructures were tested. The results showed that fibers increased the tensile strength, modulus, and impact strength, but decreased their plastic deformation. Larger fiber fraction indicates more fibers are involved in load bearing, but easy agglomeration. With ascending fiber length, tensile, and impact strength first increased and then decreased, whereas tensile modulus first increased and then maintained an almost constant value. Carbon fibers showed no advantages over glass fibers and basalt fibers in reinforcing HDPE due to the relatively poor interface bonding strength. Interface modification with KH550 improved the mechanical performance of composites, but the enhancement was limited. More effective methods should be developed for better performance. Highlights: Fiber increases strength and modulus, but decreases plastic deformation.Critical fiber length for basalt LFT is 2.6 mm obtained from SEM.Larger fiber volume and length lead to agglomerations.Difference in BF, CF, and GF reinforced HDPE is determined by interface.Interface modification enhances mechanical properties of LFT but limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the challenge of balancing load-bearing and electromagnetic (EM) wave absorption properties in aircraft composite skin, the outstanding mechanical and electrical characteristics of carbon fiber (CF) prepregs were utilized to construct a carbon fiber dual-polarized absorbing laminated structure (CFDALS). The bidirectional CF arrays were introduced into the glass fiber (GF) laminated structure, to endow the laminated structure with dual-polarized EM wave absorption performances. Additionally, the excellent load-bearing capacity of the CF reflector was used to enhance the mechanical properties. Simulation results indicate that, the CFDALS achieves an average absorptivity over 90% within the 8~18 GHz frequency band at incident angles of 0°~45°, and within the 5~18 GHz band at incident angles of 0°~60° for TE and TM polarized EM waves, respectively. The 3-point bending simulation results show that, the CFDALS exhibits higher specific flexural strengths and stiffnesses along 2 directions of the CF arrays while achieving dual-polarized EM wave absorption. Incorporation of bidirectionally arranged CF prepregs into GF prepregs enhances the dual-polarized EM wave absorption performance and the bidirectional flexural performance of the CFDALS simultaneously. The work provides a novel solution for the EM wave absorbing and load-bearing integrated design for aircraft composite skin applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the axial compressive stresses of hollow circular composite tubes were investigated. For this purpose, hollow circular composite tubes with various inner diameters (Ø12 and Ø13 millimeters), a height of 80 millimeters, and an outer diameter kept constant at Ø17 millimeters were fabricated using a fiber winding process. In the production of hollow circular tubes, epoxy was used as resin, and glass fiber, carbon fiber, and Kevlar fiber were used as reinforcement materials. Experimental investigations were carried out for three different reinforcement materials, two thin-wall thicknesses, and five orientation angles. Axial compression tests were performed to research the influences of reinforcement materials, thin-wall thickness, and orientation angles on the compressive stresses. The axial compressive strength of the samples was observed experimentally by applying the load in the vertical direction. The reinforcement material, orientation angle, and thin-walled thickness had an important influence on the axial compressive stress. The glass/epoxy reinforcement material was found to have the highest axial compressive strength at 204 Mpa. When the orientation angle increased from 45° to 88°, the axial compressive stress increased by 2.27 times in glass/epoxy, 2.36 times in carbon/epoxy, and 2.37 times in Kevlar/epoxy specimens, respectively. In addition, by increasing the specimen wall thickness by 0.5 millimeters, the axial compressive stress at an 88° orientation angle increased by 9.67 % glass/epoxy, 11.85 % carbon/epoxy, and 7.14 % Kevlar/epoxy specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work describes the preparation of bio‐based precursor carbon fibers (CFs) by a solvent‐free process. Fibers from lignin, cellulose acetate, and triacetin as plasticizer are successfully obtained by melt‐spinning showing a potential alternative to traditional precursor fibers from petroleum produced by wet‐spinning. Thermal, morphological, and structural properties of precursor fibers are studied. In particular, precursor fibers present glass transition temperatures lower than neat polymers, indicating the feasibility of using melt‐spinning due to an enhanced softening. Two stabilization thermal treatments with fast or slow heating are adopted to prepare the precursor fibers for carbonization. The CF yield achieves 32% for the materials at high lignin content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since standard distributions do not fundamentally have an acceptable fit to all types of data sets, it is necessary to construct extensions of standard distributions to increase their capability in data modeling. As a result of this shortage in old ones, we proposed a novel generator based on the trigonometric function (Arctan). We selected the Frechet distribution as the baseline for the generator's applicability. This generator produces the "new Arctan Frechet distribution" (NATFD). The fundamental properties of the proposed distribution have been taken into consideration. Estimating the given distribution's parameters is accomplished using the maximum-likelihood method. A simulation study is carried out to evaluate the superiority of the proposed distribution, and two actual data sets are used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to develop fiber-reinforced composites (FRC) with enhanced fire resistance, which can be particularly useful for the transport industry (e.g., aviation, automotive, and train production). The fire retardation was achieved through epoxy matrix modification with hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene (HCTP). First, the fire-resistant and mechanical properties of the epoxy matrix filled with different HCTP contents (4.8, 7.2, and 9.5 wt.%) were studied to select the most effective HCTP content for the impregnation of FRC. Then, glass, basalt, and carbon fiber fabrics were impregnated with epoxy filled with 7.2 wt.% of HCTP, and the fire resistance, flexural, and interlaminar fracture properties were studied to select the most effective HCTP-modified type of fiber reinforcement based on the test results. It was concluded that basalt fiber impregnated with epoxy filled with HCTP could be selected as the most effective reinforcement type, allowing excellent mechanical and flame-retardant properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on understanding of thermal and mechanical characteristics of Hybrid Composites & their utilization in high-performance Sectors like Aerospace, Automobiles, Shipbuilding & Renewable Systems. The report analyses how different materials such as carbon, glass, and natural fibers improve the strength, flexibility, thermal stability, and heat resistance of composites. These properties including thermal conductivity, thermal expansion, tensile strength, compressive strength, and fatigue resistance are analyzed with the help of examples taken from industries. The following findings suggest that hybrid composites outcompete fundamental materials in aspects such as mechanical strength and thermal control, thereby qualifying hybrid composites for sensitive applications. It also notes that work is currently being conducted on incorporating nanotechnology and bio-based composites in order to enhance performance and reduce the sector's impact on the environment. The conclusions point to the fact that hybrid composites find more and more applications in modern engineering and present research prospects to examine the manufacturing problems and environmental effects of hybrid composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The laminate was manufactured with T800 grade high toughness carbon cloth and carbon ribbon prepreg, T800 grade glass fiber prepreg, aramidon and quartz hybrid prepreg. The influence of high temperature and high pressure multiple curing on the mechanical properties of laminates was investigated. After five times of high temperature and high pressure curing, the laminate pore defects, bending strength and shear strength were tested. The results show that the internal quality of four different prepreg laminates is qualified. With the increase of curing times, the bending strength of T800 grade high toughness carbon cloth laminate decreases most obviously, and the shear strength of T800 grade glass fiber prepreg laminate decreases most obviously. However, the bending strength and shear strength of the four kinds of prepreg laminates decrease by less than 10%. The minimum shear strength of aramid and quartz hybrid prepreg after curing for five times is 1.64% lower than the theoretical index, and the shear strength of other materials is higher than the property requirements of each laminate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the impact of changes in the internal structure of composite materials on their dynamic properties. The present research focuses on 3D-printed specimens with different reinforcement fiber arrangements. The specimens are printed on a Markforged Mark Two 3D printer. The base material is nylon filled with chopped carbon fibers (Onyx) and the reinforcement is in the form of long carbon, glass and Kevlar fibers. The experiment is carried out by the impact method. The principle of this method is to expose the specimen to a short impulse of force while monitoring its frequency response. The obtained results determine the natural frequencies and internal damping of the individual structures. We found that the highest damping is achieved by specimens with glass and Kevlar fibers in 45°, 90° and ±45° configurations. On the other hand, the lowest damping is achieved by specimens with carbon fibers and 0° and 0°,90° configurations. Also, the specimens with circumferential reinforcement show lower damping coefficient values. The knowledge and results of this work can be used in the development of new components; for example, in the transport industry, where the low weight and sufficient strength of components are important factors. These components have to absorb vibrations from various sources, such as motors and external influences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silica aerogels or xerogels are renowned dried gels with low density, high surface area, higher porosity, and better thermal stability which makes it suitable for aerospace, light weight structures, thermal insulation, and hydrophobic coatings. But brittle behaviour, low mechanical strength, and high manufacturing cost restrict its usage. Recently, the addition of various fibres like glass or carbon fiber is one of the best reinforcement methods to minimize the brittle behaviour. Supercritical drying technique usually used to develop aerogel that is expensive and difficult to produce in bulk quantities. Higher cost obstacle can be tackled by applying ambient pressure drying technique to develop xerogel. But researcher observed cracks in samples prepared through the ambient pressure drying technique is still a major shortcoming. The aim of this study is to systematically analyze the influence of silica gel fiber reinforcement on silica xerogels, encompassing morphology, mechanics, thermal behaviour, compression test, and thermogravimetric characteristics. The research used a low-cost precursor named Tetraethyl orthosilicate to synthesize low-cost composite Silica xerogel and glass and carbon fiber added to provide strength and flexibility to the overall composite. Silica gel works as binder in strengthening the xerogel network. The investigation employs scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to examine the morphology of the composites, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis to affirm hydrophobic characteristics, compression tests to assess mechanical strength, and thermogravimetric tests to study weight loss under different conditions. SEM results reveals that glass fibers exhibit lower adhesion to the xerogel network compared to carbon fibers. FTIR analysis confirms the hydrophobicity of the composite silica xerogel. Compression tests showed that, under a 48% strain rate, the carbon fiber composite demonstrates superior compressive stress endurance. Thermogravimetric tests revealed a 1% lower weight loss for the carbon fiber composite compared to the glass fiber composite. This work concludes that glass and carbon fiber together with silica gel particles successfully facilitated in developing flexible, less costly, hydrophobic, and crack-free silica xerogel composites by APD. These advancements have the potential to drive innovations in material science and technology across diverse industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid composites used in material extrusion additive manufacturing have experienced considerable expansion over the past 5 years, incorporating functional properties into 3D‐printed objects. This paper presents a systematic review that aims to: (I) analyze the current state of development in the field; (II) quantify and categorize the adopted polymeric matrices, reinforcing materials, feedstock shapes, characterization strategies, and extrusion mechanisms; and (III) identify the applications, limitations, and trends for future research. The PRISMA statement was followed and the databases Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed were consulted. Among the 116 included studies, the use of customized filaments surpassed the commercially available ones, with particulate matter being the most common form of filler when melt‐mixed with the polymer. Polyamide is the most widely adopted matrix (30.3%), followed by PLA (22.0%) and ABS (17.4%). In terms of reinforcements, carbon fiber (32.4%), glass fiber (12.5%), and ceramics (12.5%) compose the podium as the most frequently used, with nanofillers receiving increasing attention. In the conducted analysis, no standardized protocols were identified that clearly encompassed the entire process from feedstock formulation to technical prototype fabrication. At last, recycling, exploration of biodegradable materials, and 4D printing were identified as the main opportunities for future research. Highlights: Reinforced polymers enable the enhancement of properties for 3D‐printed parts.Composite feedstock is usually formulated and mixed before printing.3D printers with filament‐ or screw‐based extrusion mechanisms have been used.Mechanical and morphological analyses are common in material characterization.No identified applications were employed in real‐world scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 3D computational study was conducted to analyze the compressive load response of a glass-carbon hybrid composite. The study varied the volume percentage of glass fibers from 0% to 100% in a composite with an overall fiber volume fraction of 0.5. Compressive instability failure was examined using ABAQUS/CAE 3D finite element micro mechanical models. The analysis assessed the behavior of glass and carbon fiber models independently before evaluating the performance of the hybrid composite.The results revealed that hybrid models exhibited superior performance at specific volume fractions. It was observed that the matrix shear yield strength played a significant role in determining compressive instability failure. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that hybrid composite turnable trays enhanced moisture removal and heat transmission during drying processes. These trays were found to be particularly suitable for outdoor solar greenhouses owing to their high strength-to-weight ratio, mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and dimensional stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid components consisting of continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic (CFRT) and steel components exhibit promising potential in advanced lightweight construction. However, the joining operation presents a significant challenge due to the materials' distinct physical and chemical properties. This paper studies a joining method in which dual pin arrays protruding from the surface of the metal component are inserted into the locally heated CFRT component to create a form-fitting joint. The primary objective is to scrutinize the influence of various CFRT materials on joint formation and quantify the resulting properties. The fiber type (glass and carbon) and fiber architecture (unidirectional and bidirectional reinforcement) are varied. All materials could successfully be joined via the direct pin pressing process, while depending on the CFRT material, distinct characteristic fiber morphologies could be identified. Bidirectionally reinforced carbon fiber reinforced samples showed the highest overall strength, while unidirectionally glass fiber reinforced samples showed the highest energy absorption and second highest ultimate strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the different structural strength requirements of different parts of fiberglass yachts, carbon fiber/glass fiber hybrid reinforcement can be applied to the skins of sandwich panels in special areas. This paper designs and prepares 12 foam sandwich panel samples composed of pure carbon fiber, a carbon fiber/glass fiber hybrid, pure glass fiber skin, and PVC and SAN foam sandwich, with reference to the layup structure of the outer panel of a fiberglass yacht. Through a comparative analysis of low-speed impact experiments, edge compression experiments, and short beam three-point bending experiments, we seek the optimal carbon fiber/glass fiber hybrid layup design scheme for local structures to guide production. The results show that a reasonable hybrid carbon fiber layup in fiberglass skin can effectively reduce the low-speed impact damage of the sandwich structure, reduce edge compression damage, and improve the bending and compression resistance of sandwich structure. The impact resistance, compression resistance, and shear resistance of the SAN sandwich structure are stronger than the PVC sandwich structure. The carbon fiber/glass fiber hybrid SAN foam sandwich structure can be used for the local structural reinforcement of special parts such as the bow, side, and main deck of fiberglass yachts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, fiber stacks are extensively used in the aircraft and structural component manufacturing industries. It is mainly due to their excellent mechanical and physiochemical performances. The different stacking sequences of fiber materials expand the structural properties due to high-strength carbon fiber and low-cost glass fiber. The fragile and anisotropic conduct of Carbon (Cf) and Glass (Gf) laminates generates different types of complex machining issues. This article focuses on the Drilling test of Carbon/glass fiber hybrid composites using different stacking sequences. The effect of varying stacking orders is explored in this study to identify a feasible composite. The control of varying constraints, namely, spindle speed (N), feed rate (f), and stacking sequence (SS) of carbon (Cf) and glass fiber (Gf) reinforcement, is performed to achieve the optimal parametric condition. The finding reveals that sample A (C4G4) stacking sequence provides an acceptable value for thrust force 59.05 N and delamination 1.0001 for high drilling efficiency. The stacking technique of carbon/glass layers can be endorsed to the manufacturing sector for cost-effective composite development and a defect-free machining environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with an innovative nondestructive technique for composites (local-IET), which is based on the Impulse Excitation Technique (IET) and, in the presence of damage, assesses the degradation of the elastic properties of a local region of the laminate by reversibly clamping its boundaries. In this paper, a numerical analysis of the sensitivity of the local-IET to the delamination damage mechanism is conducted. Firstly, a Finite Element (FE) model of the local-IET test is determined through experimental investigations on undamaged composite laminates, which cover a wide range and are made of glass or carbon fibers, through resin infusion or pre-preg consolidation and with unidirectional or fabric textures. The vibrational response of a glass fiber composite with local delamination is then assessed with the local-IET. By modeling the delamination in the simulation environment, the effectiveness of the FE model in replicating the vibrational response, even in the presence of delamination, is shown through a comparison with the experimental results. Finally, the FE model is exploited to perform a sensitivity analysis, showing that the technique is able to detect the presence of delamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because the physical properties of carbon fiber and glass fiber are very different, the fiber volume fraction in carbon/glass hybrid fiber composites cannot be tested by burning method or digestion method, respectively. Furthermore, these methods partially consume the fiber, especially for carbon fibers. To investigate the fiber volume fraction in carbon/glass hybrid fiber composites correctly, the test method is put forward. The burning method and the digestion method were combined to calculate the volume fraction of carbon fiber and glass fiber, respectively. The results show that the relative error between the measured value and the theoretical value is very small. The result of the present work implies that the feasibility and accuracy of this method through experimental verification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By integrating fiber-reinforced composites (FRCs) with Three-dimensional (3D) printing, the flexibility of lightweight structures was promoted while eliminating the mold's limitations. The design of the I-beam configuration was performed according to the equal-strength philosophy. Then, a multi-objective optimization analysis was conducted based on the NSGA-II algorithm. 3D printing was utilized to fabricate I-beams in three kinds of configurations and seven distinct materials. The flexural properties of the primitive (P-type), the designed (D-type), and the optimized (O-type) configurations were verified via three-point bending testing at a speed of 2 mm/min. Further, by combining different reinforcements, including continuous carbon fibers (CCFs), short carbon fibers (SCFs), and short glass fibers (SGFs) and distinct matrices, including polyamides (PAs), and polylactides (PLAs), the 3D-printed I-beams were studied experimentally. The results indicate that designed and optimized I-beams exhibit a 14.46% and 30.05% increase in the stiffness-to-mass ratio and a 7.83% and 40.59% increment in the load-to-mass ratio, respectively. The CCFs and SCFs result in an outstanding accretion in the flexural properties of 3D-printed I-beams, while the accretion is 2926% and 1070% in the stiffness-to-mass ratio and 656.7% and 344.4% in the load-to-mass ratio, respectively. For the matrix, PAs are a superior choice compared to PLAs for enhancing the positive impact of reinforcements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study the recent developments in raw materials, manufacturing processes, and applications of natural fiber composites (NFCs) were reviewed. Natural fibers can represent a substitute for man-made fibers (including glass, aramid, and carbon) in a variety of biocomposite applications. Physical and chemical properties of the natural fibers are given and compared with the synthetic fibers. Advantages and disadvantages of NFCs in comparison with synthetic fibers such as glass and carbon fibers have been proposed. Criteria are described for the selection and processing of natural fibers for polymer composites used in different sectors such as automotive and building industries. The nanocellulose production methods, unique properties, and its recent industrial application in various sectors are given. This short review on NFCs considers their chemical, physical, and mechanical characteristics, as well as their various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the severity of thermal degradation on the impact response of carbon (C) and glass (G) fibers reinforced PolyEther Ether Ketone (PEEK) laminates, low velocity impact tests were conducted at a temperature higher than the glass transition temperature Tg (150°C) and after exposure to a kerosene flame (5-10-15′). The first important effect resulting from temperature increase was a reduction of the impact energy required to induce BVID (Barely Visible Impact Damage). The second effect was that matrix ductility (enhanced at T>Tg) contributes to significantly modify the permanent indentation. Not surprisingly, the plastic and viscoplastic deformation mechanisms being ruled by the PEEK matrix behavior at high temperature, the permanent indentation increases by almost 40% for all impact energies. Contrary to the external damage represented by permanent indentation, temperature has a tremendous influence on the internal damage as there was virtually no delamination in the CG/PEEK laminates impacted at Room Temperature (RT) and 150°C. At last, impact tests conducted on specimens exposed to a kerosene flame implied that the impact bearing capabilities of CG/PEEK laminates dramatically decreased after a 5′ exposure and became even critical after 10′ as perforation was observed. For 40 J impacts, the permanent indentation was multiplied by 3–9 with respect to the as-received specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the current research in the field of orthopedic bone plates exploring the various reinforcements used in polymer-based hybrid composites, discussing their mechanical properties and impact on composite performance. The article further delves into the matrix materials utilized in polymer-based hybrid composites. Fabrication techniques employed for producing polymer-based hybrid composites are discussed. The mechanical performance of polymer-based hybrid composites, including tensile strength, flexural strength, and fracture toughness, is reviewed to assess their suitability for bone plate applications. Finally, the clinical outcomes of polymer-based hybrid composites are examined to gauge their efficacy in real-world scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminium oxide was designed and synthesised with three different diamines, including production and/or diamino diphenyl sulfoxide, as well as p-phenylenediamine, to improve the adhesion properties of lightweight carbon composites. For 3-ply composite production, manual lay-up was utilised as a straightforward process. The fibre content ratios of 30:70 with fibre inclinations of 0, 45 and 90 degrees were employed in sample processing. Both Al2O3 and many fibre layers were first distributed in the epoxy coating and then the Al2O3 and carbon-strengthened epoxy were immediately inserted into that same carbon fibre to increase the mechanical properties. The Al2O3 and fibre glass compositions ranged from 0.1 to 0.5%wt. The mechanical qualities of hybrid composites are found to be primarily determined by the kind of derivatization, followed by the proportion of altered Al2O3. As a consequence, the Al2O3 additive dramatically improves both flexural and tensile forces. Because of Al2O3 good mechanical properties, both tensile strength and flexural strength and elastic modulus are boosted by Al2O3 filling inside the adhesives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Y-shaped sealing rings of a 140-MPa cage throttle valve were studied at temperatures of − 46 °C, 25 °C, and 180 °C. First, we determined the constitutive model parameters of the ring materials (polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), PTFE with 5% carbon fiber, PTFE with 5% carbon fiber and 5% glass fiber, PTFE with 10% carbon fiber (10C-PTFE), and PTFE with 10% carbon fiber and 10% glass fiber) at three temperatures through uniaxial tensile testing. Next, we investigated the influence of interference, lip front angle, and lip back angle on sealing performance and determined the maximum von Mises stresses and maximum contact stresses of the inner and outer lips. Based on those results, 10C-PTFE was established as the best material for Y-shaped sealing rings. A sealing ring with an interference of 0.25 mm, a lip front angle of 75°, and a lip back angle of 16° can simultaneously meet the sealing requirements at all three temperatures and has the best sealing performance. Finally, the obtained optimal sealing ring parameters were used to produce sealing parts, and a testing device was designed to complete the PR1 (Performance Requirements 1) testing. The testing results show that the Y-shaped sealing ring developed here can achieve 140-MPa sealing capability at − 46 °C, 25 °C, and 180 °C with qualified sealing performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variety of 3D printing parameters have been investigated including reinforcement material and print orientation, as well as reinforcement pattern, distribution and volume. From these evaluated parameters, the optimal values are taken into account to select the highest compressive properties. By using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) imaging, reinforcement and thermoplastic layers have been clearly identified alongside sample flaws. Horizontally printed samples exhibited higher mean values with less standard deviation than vertically printed ones for compressive modulus and compression strength. For the sample set with the Nylon and carbon fibre; concentric and isometric fill patterns were compared in three different fibre distributions. Concentric fill pattern with equidistantly fibre distribution exhibited the highest compressive modulus as 1.8 GPa. It also exhibited a higher proportional limit of 12.80% and compressive modulus of 11.64% than its counterpart with the isometric fill pattern. For the set with 12.5% fibre volume, Onyx + CF (matrix + reinforcement) exhibited higher compressive modulus and compressive strength than Nylon + CF by 18.5%, and 28.1%, respectively. Within the experimental set of different reinforcements (carbon fibre, Kevlar, fibreglass), and different fibre volumes (6.25%, 12.5%, 25%) with Onyx matrix; Onyx thermoplastic with fibreglass reinforcements and a fibre volume of 25% exhibited the highest compressive properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel regionally intralayer hybrid composites were designed and their mechanical properties were investigated. Carbon and glass fibers were used as the reinforcement and an epoxy binder as the matrix. Five different structures with a glass/carbon hybrid transition were created. One their end was a homogeneous glass fiber, the other end — a homogeneous carbon fiber, and the middle region — a transitional hybrid. It was found that specimens with a long transition region in the outermost layers had a higher tensile strength than those of a short one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent achievements in TWDAR (thermal wave detection and ranging) technology has made it possible to utilize a range of thermal imaging techniques for analyzing the characteristics of materials used in various industries. Moreover, the distinctive features of nonstationary thermal imaging have piqued attention of researchers in non-destructive evaluation (NDE). For a detailed defect visualization, it is essential to employ a dependable processing technique that accurately extracts the relevant time–frequency components from the chirped thermal response. In this study, a nonstationary thermal wave imaging technique is utilized by using quadratic frequency modulation (QFM) in conjunction with a cutting-edge technique of fractional Fourier transform (FrFT), to assess material quality. An experimentation has been carried out on carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) and glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) samples with defects of different sizes at varying depths, to evaluate their characteristics. Experimental results have validated the efficiency of the proposed FrFT processing approach through rigorous qualitative and quantitative analysis, which has involved measurements of some merit figures, such as signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), full width at half maxima (FWHM), and probability of detection (PoD). From the results, it is evident that the proposed method provides a distinct and precise visualization of defects promising to be a useful technique in identifying and retrieving information of internal defects in materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shredding of a vehicle or an electrical and electronic equipment at its end-of-life (EOL) is a common practice to extract valuable critical raw materials. Unfortunately, this has the unintended consequence of mixing different polymers together and the only EOL options for this industrial mixed plastic waste are landfilling and incineration. Here in this work, we show that low value and highly heterogenous industrial mixed plastic can be mechanically upcycled sustainably using a composite approach, i.e., reinforcing with carbon fibres (CFs), glass fibres (GFs) and wood flour (WF). It was found that industrial mixed plastic can be successfully reprocessed, albeit possessing significantly poorer mechanical properties compared to its virgin counterpart. Nevertheless, the mechanical properties of the reinforced industrial mixed plastics were observed to be governed by the fibre or filler reinforcement, instead of the more inferior brittle industrial mixed plastic matrix. A lifecycle analysis (LCA) model with a functional unit designed using finite element analysis was developed to determine the environmental impact of upcycling industrial mixed plastic from shredder residue using this composite approach. In a "business as usual" scenario, our LCA model estimated a global warming potential (GWP) of 23 kg CO2-eq. per f.u. and a net abiotic depletion potential of fossil (ADPf) of 431 MJ f.u.−1. Using our proposed feedstock agnostic and pragmatic solution, the GWP and net ADPf could be reduced to only 11 kg CO2-eq. per f.u. and 160 MJ f.u.−1, respectively, when 40 wt% WF reinforcing filler was used. Our work also reports the influence of reinforcement on the tensile, flexural and fracture toughness properties, as well as the LCA hot spots in such an upcycling approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different modifications of woven carbon fiber (WCF) based on carbon aerogel (CAG), copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs), and lignin (LIG) has been tested and used to study their effect on the fabrication and performance of a flexible supercapacitor. New symmetric flexible supercapacitors (SFSCs) were fabricated using different separators. According to the electrochemical results, the device fabricated using CAG and woven glass fiber (WGF) in a sandwich type configuration CAG/WGF/CAG embedded in H3PO4/PVA exhibited the best performance (1.4 F/g, 0.961 W/kg, 0.161 Wh/kg). A proof of concept based on a LED powered on and a bending test was done, and the capacitor demonstrated excellent electrochemical values even during and after bending. The new device was able to recover 96.12% of its capacitance when returned to its original unbent position. The manufacturing process was critical, as the fibers or layers must be completely embedded in the gel electrolyte to function effectively. A double flexible supercapacitor connected in parallel was fabricated and it showed higher stability, in the same voltage window, yielding 311 mF/cm2 of areal capacitance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of new irradiation setups as well as the ongoing interest in 3D printing, photopolymerization is extensively studied during the last decades. In photopolymerization, a photoinitiator and/or photosensitizer play(s) a crucial role in the photoinitiation step as this component absorbs light, thus creating the initiating species. In this study, a series of 17 chalcone‐based oxime esters (OXEs) featuring the pyrene chromophore are designed, synthesized, and studied for their photoinitiation properties upon irradiation with visible light. Precisely, their photoinitiation abilities are examined during the free radical photopolymerization of acrylates under the irradiation of light‐emitting diode (LED) at 405 nm. In the series of oxime esters, five of them demonstrate excellent photoinitiation abilities. Their thermal initiation abilities are also examined. To improve their photoinitiation abilities, these type I photoinitiators are also tested as type II photoinitiators in two‐component photoinitiating systems using bis‐(4‐tert‐butylphenyl)iodonium or ethyl 4‐(dimethylamino)benzoate as additives. In this process, the OXE‐B/iodonium system shows the best photopolymerization. To develop the use of these chalcone‐based oxime esters, the best OXE is used as a monocomponent photoinitiating system in 2D laser writing at 405 nm. The design of composites using glass fibers or carbon fiber as fillers is also examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental study was performed to investigate damage sensing and fracture toughness of multifunctional conductive glass fiber composites under dynamic mode-I fracture loading. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were dispersed within the epoxy matrix using a shear mixing and sonicating process. An electrostatic wet flocking process was used to reinforce milled short PAN-based carbon fibers onto each of the layers of glass fiber fabric along the thickness direction in the composites. These layers of flocked fabric were stacked, and a vacuum infusion process was employed to fabricate the composites. The parametric study consisted of two carbon fiber lengths (80 μm and 150 μm) and two fiber densities (1000 fibers/mm2 and 2000 fibers/mm2) and was performed to investigate the damage sensing capabilities of a three-dimensional conductive network generated through CNTs and carbon fibers. A double cantilever beam (DCB) configuration was considered, and a modified Hopkinson pressure bar setup along with a high-speed camera was used to investigate dynamic fracture toughness of the composites. The piezo-resistance response of the composites during dynamic fracture was measured using a modified system of four probes. For comparison, composites were also characterized for fracture toughness and piezo-resistance under quasi-static fracture loading conditions. The addition of short, milled PAN-based carbon fibers significantly increased the fracture toughness of glass/epoxy composites. The piezo-resistance response of the composites was easily correlated with instances of sudden crack growth during static fracture loading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delamination is one of the life‐limiting failure modes for fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite composites resulting in poor damage tolerance, as this failure mode occurs at considerably lower loads. Owing to the enormous demand and mass production of FRP composites, a large amount of fiber waste is produced worldwide. This triggers concern about utilizing these fiber wastes for some valuable applications. The present study aims to improve the overall damage tolerance of laminated glass/epoxy composites via the introduction of waste short carbon fibers (SCFs) reinforcement in the epoxy matrix. The effect of various SCF contents (0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 wt%) in glass fiber/epoxy composites were evaluated experimentally for their interlaminar fracture toughness in terms of both crack development and propagation under mode I and II interlaminar fracture toughness tests, at elevated temperatures (30, 50, and 70°C). Based on the experimental results, glass/epoxy composite with 0.1 wt% of SCF revealed 13.49% and 20.45% increment in mode I and II interlaminar fracture toughness, respectively, at ambient temperature. A positive reinforcement effect could be noticed for GIC and GIIC values up to 50°C. However, due to residual interfacial stresses, interfacial debonding, and epoxy softening, a negative reinforcement effect could be noticed at 70°C. Delamination initiation and crack propagation mechanisms have been explored at elevated temperatures. Fractographic studies have been carried out using a scanning electron microscope to identify the failure mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of advantages such as remarkable mechanical properties and the ease of recycling, fiber‐reinforced thermoplastic polymer composites have been increasing in importance in industrial, transport, and sporting potential extraordinary applications. To fabricate polycarbonate (PC) components with lightweight and high mechanical properties, short glass fiber (SGF), long carbon fiber (LCF) reinforcement, and foaming technology were used in this study. The effects of SGF, LCF, and SGF/LCF on the mechanical properties and foaming quality of PC samples were carefully investigated and compared. The results show that SGF has a better foaming nucleation effect than LCF, and the mechanical enhancement effect of LCF is more significant than that of SGF. The combination of SGF and LCF can effectively improve the cell quality of foam samples and significantly enhance their mechanical properties. Therefore, a comprehensive application of the fiber‐reinforcement effect of PC resin is proposed. Highlights: LCF and SGF reinforced PC foams have been successfully fabricated.Hybrid reinforced effect of LCF and SGF on PC foams was verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on the compressive properties of a new steel wire– and carbon/glass hybrid fiber–reinforced polymer (S-CG HFRP) bar. The influence of the carbon and glass fiber volume proportion (Vc/Vg), steel wire replacement ratio (Vs), fiber volume ratio (Vf), fiber arrangement, and ratio of the unbraced length to the bar diameter (Lu/d) on the compressive behavior of the S-CG HFRP bars was experimentally investigated. The failure mechanisms were analyzed, revealing that the failure mode changed from fiber microbuckling to fiber macrobuckling with an increase in Lu/d. Adding steel wires resulted in a decrease in the compressive modulus of the S-CG HFRP bars. The compressive strength of the S-CG HFRP bars was not effectively improved by adding steel wires or carbon fibers and was governed by the Lu/d ratio. The results showed that the compressive modulus and strength of the S-CG HFRP bars were approximately 90% and 28% of their tensile modulus and strength, respectively. Finally, the relationship between the compressive and tensile properties of the S-CG HFRP bars was established. Simplified empirical equations were proposed to estimate the compressive strengths of S-CG HFRP bars with different Lu/d ratios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Materiae Compositae Sinica is the property of Acta Materiea Compositae Sinica Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

An ultra-wideband electromagnetic (EM) absorber is proposed. The proposed absorber consists of two thin metasurfaces, four dielectric layers, a glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP), and a carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) which works as a conductive reflector. The thin metasurfaces are accomplished with 1-bit pixelated patterns and optimized by a genetic algorithm. Composite materials of GFRP and CFRP are incorporated to improve the durability of the proposed absorber. From the full-wave simulation, more than 90% absorption rate bandwidth is computed from 2.2 to 18 GHz such that the fractional bandwidth is about 156% for the incidence angles from 0° to 30°. Absorptivity is measured using the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) arch method in an EM anechoic environment. It was shown that the measured results correlated with the simulated results. In addition, the proposed absorber underwent high temperature and humidity tests under military environment test conditions in order to investigate its durability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of openings on the behavior of arched beams and the effectiveness of different strengthening materials in enhancing their performance. The study involves three stages. The first stage focuses on the effect of openings on the behavior of curved beams. The second stage examines the effect of different strengthening materials, including carbon fiber sheets, glass fiber sheets, and steel plates, on the deflection and failure load in the presence of openings. In the third stage, Finite Element models are used to simulate the tested beams with different strengthening materials, and the differences between beams with and without openings are analyzed. The results show that the presence of openings negatively affects the ultimate load, deflection, and ductility ratio of arched beams. Regarding strengthening, beams strengthened with steel plates demonstrate a higher ultimate load, approximately 5.6% and 21% higher than beams strengthened with carbon fiber and glass fiber sheets, respectively. Moreover, the deflection of beams strengthened with steel plates is 6.4% and 8.9% higher than beams strengthened with CFRP and GFRP. The presented work is introduced to offer a valuable solution to some developed systems for controlling, repairing, and supporting structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]