Two factors affect the mechanical properties of fiber glass-reinforced plastics (F. R. P.): (1) Glass volume fraction; (2) The configuration of glass filled. There are hardly any published analyses of the relation between these factors and the mechanical properties of F.R.P.
This article investigates the relation between glass volume fraction and Young's modulus of F. R. P, in two different kinds of specimens-one, F. R. P. filled with glass particles; the other, F. R. P. reinforced with glass cloth-selected because they are the simplest of the various configurations of glass fiber with which F. R. P, is filled and because they differ radically from each other in shape.
The article analyzes experimental results according to the isotropic non-homogeneous elastic theory and by means of mechanical models of the two-composite system. The model used in calculating experimental results on the F. R. P. reinforced with glass cloth was a new, modified model.
The relation of Young's modulus to glass volume fraction, obtained from experimental results, agrees well with results calculated from the models. The relation between the dynamic modulus of F. R. P. and glass volume fraction below 10% is derived from the models at a temperature approximating the glass temperature of resin.
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