Fatima-paper-1-.pdf

This paper aims to examine fiber type and fiber orientation’s effects on the interface bonding between steel and

fiber‐reinforced composites. To this end, fracture loads for modes I and II were experimentally determined.

Three different composites were used: glass fibers/epoxy (GFRP), carbon fibers/epoxy (CFRP), and Kevlar

fibers/epoxy (KFRP). Seven different fabric orientations were examined: 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, and 90°.

End‐notched flexure (ENF) and Double cantilever beam (DCB) tests were utilized to determine modes I and

II fracture toughness, respectively. Results showed that fiber orientations and fiber types have significantly

affected the interface bonding between the steel and fiber‐reinforced composite. For both modes I and II tests,

the CFRP/steel interface exhibited the highest toughness when comparing the different tested fabric types.

However, when comparing the different tested fabric orientations for GFRP/Steel, the 0° GFRP/Steel interface

had the maximum toughness for modes I and II tests. All steel‐composite specimens tested have shown matrix,

debonding, fiber breakage, delamination, and fiber kinking using the scanning electron microscopic technique.