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Studies on Vibration Analysis of Polymer Matrixcomposite Panels

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Studies on Vibration Analysis of Polymer Matrixcomposite Panels
Swapnil V. Sonawane1, S. V. Dhanal2 and P. J. Sawant3
1
P. G. Student, 2,3Department of Mechanical Engineering
1,2&3
Sanjay Ghodawat Group of Institutions, Atigre, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India
E-Mail: dhanal.sv@sginstitute.in
Abstract - In the present work, vibration behavior of laminated
composite panels is studied experimentally as well as using
finite element analysis. The natural frequencies and mode
shapes of a number of cantilever glass fiber-epoxy and carbon
fiber-epoxy composites numerically obtained using ANSYS.
Experiments have been performed on the composite panels to
validate the results obtained from numerical techniques.
Composite panel specimens are fabricated using the glass:
epoxy laminate in a proportion of 60:40 by weight fractions of
matrix: fiber. LY-556 resin and hardener HY-951 are used
with glass fiber and Carbon fiber to fabricate the laminated
composite specimen. Hand lay-up method is used for combine
the fiber with epoxy resin of required sequence. It is found that
natural frequencies of carbon fiber-epoxy composite panel are
higher than that of glass fiber-epoxy composite panel. Hybrid
glass and carbon-epoxy have natural frequencies similar than
that of glass fiber-epoxy panel but lower than that of carbon
fiber-epoxy panel.
Keywords: Composites, Fiber Volume, Free Vibration, Natural
Frequency
I. INTRODUCTION
The structure of a composite consists of two phases, matrix
and reinforcement. The matrix is a continuous phase and the
reinforcement is a discontinuous one. Polymer matrix
composite material is the one that uses organic polymer as
matrix and fiber as reinforcement. The composite materials
generally possess combination of properties such as
stiffness, strength, weight, high temperature performance,
corrosion resistance, hardness and conductivity which are
not possible with the individual components. Normally
strength and modulus of fiber are much higher than the
matrix material. The matrix has the responsibility of
bonding of the reinforcements, uniformly distribute the
applied load and transfer the loads to fiber. Thus in
composite materials, the performance of fiber, matrix and
the interface between them directly impact on the
performance of composite materials. Polymer matrix
composites are often named by the type of their reinforced
fiber, such as glass fiber composite material (commonly
known as glass fiber reinforced plastics), carbon fiber
composites, and hybrid fiber composites.
Dong Jiang et al., [1] presented work on Numerical-
experimental method for elastic parameters identification of
a composite panel with a hybrid numerical-experimental
approach to identify elastic modulus of a textile composite
panel using vibration test data is proposed and investigated.
Sarmila Sahoo [2] applied finite element method has been
51
Asian Review of Mechanical Engineering
ISSN: 2249 - 6289 Vol. 7 No. 1, 2018, pp.51-56
© The Research Publication, ww.trp.org.in
applied to analyze free vibration problems of laminated
composite stiffened shallow spherical shell panels with
cutouts and suggested guidelines to select optimum size and
position of the cutout with respect to shell centre
considering different practical constraints. Ni et al. [3]
developed mathematical formulation using energy method
finite element analysis to predict the dynamic characteristics
of hybrid laminated composite beam sand plates
respectively and compared the obtained results with
experimental results. They also analyzed the economic
aspects and considerations of using hybrid materials over
typical composite laminates with only one type of fiber.
Lin Dun-xiang et al., [7] performed a numerical analysis
based on finite element method for predicting the natural
frequencies, mode shapes, and damping values of laminated
composite plates. They compared theoretical and
experimental results obtained for carbon fiber and glass
fiber reinforced polymer plates. From the available
literature it was observed that fewer studies have
particularly focused on laminated composite flat and/or
curved panel. Majority of the studies are done on laminated
composite plates. Most of the studies were based on
analytical methods.
Our aim is to study different polymer composite panels
taking different proportions fiber and matrix by weight. In
the present work vibration behavior of polymer composite
panels is studied experimentally as well as using finite
element analysis. The natural frequencies and mode shapes
of a number of cantilever glass fiber-epoxy and carbon
fiber-epoxy composites numerically obtained using
ANSYS. Experiments have been performed on the
composite panels to validate the results obtained from
numerical techniques.
II. EXPERIMENTAL DETAILS
A. Material and Specimen Preparation
These details describes about the materials and its
fundamental constituents, the fabrication of composite
panels, and the methods confirming the standards. The
composite panels were fabricated using the carbon and
glass: epoxy laminate in a proportion of 60:40 and 50:50 by
weight fractions of matrix: fiber. LY-556 resin and hardener
HY-951 were used with E-glass fiber and Carbon fiber to
fabricate the laminated composite specimen. Hand lay-up
ARME Vol.7 No.1 January-June 2018
Swapnil V. Sonawane, S. V. Dhanal and P. J. Sawant

method was used for combine the fiber with epoxy resin of
required sequence. Hand lay-up technique is simplest and
the most commonly used method for the manufacture of
both small and large reinforced products. Specimens were
fabricated and left for 48 hours for curing purpose under
normal temperature. Then samples were transported and cut
into required size for vibration testing. A size of specimen
(75mm x 50mm x300mm) was prepared for conducting
vibration test. Fig. 2 Experimental Setup

The following cases for proportions of fiber and matrix by

weight were considered:
1. Case A. 60% fiber volume fraction of Carbon /Epoxy
panel
(Vfg = 60% & Vm=40%).
2. Case B. 60% fiber volume fraction of Glass/Epoxy
panel
(Vfc = 60% & Vm=40%).
3. Case C. 60% fiber volume fraction of Carbon and
Glass/Epoxy panel
(Vfg = 40% &Vfc = 20% & Vm=40%). Fig. 3 Experimental Setup for Glass fiber specimen
4. Case D. 50% fiber volume fraction of Carbon and
Glass/Epoxy panel.
(Vfg = 25% &Vfc =25% & Vm=50%).

Where, Vfg= Fiber volume of glass, Vfc=Fiber volume of

carbon, Vm= Volume of matrix.

Fig. 4 Experimental Setup for Carbon fiber specimen

Fig. 1 Dimension of Specimen

The material properties of the above considered panel were

calculated using fiber volume fraction theory and rule of
mixture. Fig. 5 Experimental Setup for Carbon and Glass fiber (hybrid) specimen

B. Experimental Setup for Vibration test
Experimental setup for impact test consists of cantilever
type structure instrumented impact hammer, cable, Fast
Fourier Transformer (FFT) Analyzer and user interface
(computer device) as shown in Fig. 2.
The instrumented impact hammer is connected FFT
Analyzer by means of cables. The user interface (computer)
is connected to FFT Analyzer to record the graphical
response of the cantilever beam. Ultra soft rubber tip is
attached on the instrumented impact hammer.
The experimental test setup was consists of laminated
composite panel for testing, housing of laminated composite
panel, loading arrangement, and FFT Analyzer (BUMP test
in ADASH 4400 VA PRO).The work specimen was loaded
in the fixture at one end and is free at the other end forming
cantilever position. Experimental data was collected by
tapping an impact hammer on the panel. The connections of
the impact hammer, vibration analyzer and user interference
were properly made. Then Performing the impact test by
using Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT) on the cantilever
beam to measure the frequency response hence the
excitations are given with impact hammer and the natural

ARME Vol.7 No.1 January-June 2018 52

 Studies on Vibration Analysis of Polymer Matrixcomposite Panels

frequencies are noted at different modes and the frequency IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
response functions are obtained. Then repeat the impact
testing procedure and calculate natural frequency of the The variation of frequency of vibration of fiber-reinforced
composite panel. Post process the modal data through the composite panel of carbon with 60% fiber volume , glass
transfer function plots and reading from response graphs with 60% fiber volume and carbon/glass hybrid with 60%
taken which are in the user interface (computer). and 50% fiber volume shown in following Figures. The
effect of % of Fiber Volume on the natural frequency along
III. FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS the length of composite panel is analyzed. Figures 8 to 11
shows frequency response functions (FRF) of different
The panel was modelled as a plane area in ANSYS 16.0 and samples.
then meshed using Sizing node in Mesh window for
structure.Modal analysis was carried out using the
mentioned dimensions and material properties.The panel
thickness t was taken to be dependent on the fibre/epoxy
combination used in the laminas that made the panel. The
engineering data for glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP)
and carbon fibre reinforced polymer(CFRP) composite
panels was considered.

The boundary condition was fixed support at one side the

variable was set to define the results and for solving the
analysis to obtain the solution. The model of the fiber-
reinforced composite panel having dimensions 300 mm
Fig. 8 FRF of Composite CFRP with 60% Fiber Volume
(length) hollow section with 75 mm (width) x 50mm
(height) having 3mm thickness was constructed in ANSYS
16.0.(Fig. 6)

Fig. 9 FRF of Composite GFRP with 60% Fiber Volume

Fig. 6 Model was created in ANSYS

Fig. 7 Loading and Boundary Conditions applied

Fig. 10 FRF of Composite CFRP and GFRP with 60% Fiber Volume
In order to study effect of % Fiber Volume on the natural
frequency of composite panel for cantilever condition, the
material properties of fiber reinforced polymers used in this
work were calculated using micromechanics.

53 ARME Vol.7 No.1 January-June 2018

Swapnil V. Sonawane, S. V. Dhanal and P. J. Sawant
Fig. 11 FRF of Composite CFRP and GFRP with 50% Fiber Volume
Fig. 12 Comparision between Experimental and Numerical frequencies of
CFRP with 60% Fiber Volume
Fig. 13 Comparision between Experimental and Numerical frequencies of
GFRP with 60% Fiber Volume
Fig. 14 Comparision between Experimental and Numerical frequencies of
CFRP and GFRP with 60% Fiber Volume
ARME Vol.7 No.1 January-June 2018
Fig. 15 Comparision between Experimental and Numerical frequencies of
CFRP and GFRP with 50% Fiber Volume
The natural frequencies of CFRP composite panel are found
to be higher than that of GFRP composite panel. Carbon
Fiber with 60 % Fiber Volume panelhave higher natural
frequencies in comparison to Glass and Carbon Fiber with
50 % Fiber Volume panel. However, Glass Fiber with 60 %
Fiber Volume panel and Glass and Carbon Fiber with 60 %
Fiber Volume panel have almost similar natural frequencies.
Hybrid glass carbon/Epoxy panel have natural frequencies
similar than that of E-glass/epoxy panel, but lower than that
of carbon/epoxy panel. Moreover hybrid panel with 60%
Fiber Volume have higher natural frequencies compared to
hybrid panel with 50% Fiber Volume. Hence natural
frequencies of carbon fiber-epoxy composite panel are
higher than that of glass fiber-epoxy composite panel.
Fig. 16 Deformed shape for 1st mode natural frequency for CFRP with 60%
Fiber Volume
Fig. 17 Deformed shape for 1st mode natural frequency for GFRP with 60%
Fiber Volume
54
 Studies on Vibration Analysis of Polymer Matrixcomposite Panels
Fig. 18 Deformed shape for 1st mode natural frequency for CFRP and
GFRP with 60% Fiber Volume
TABLE I EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL FREQUENCY OF CFRP & GFRP
Material
S. No.
1 Carbon Fiber with 60% Fiber Volume
2 Glass Fiber with 60% Fiber Volume
3 Glass and Carbon Fiber with 60% Fiber Volume
4 Glass and Carbon Fiber with 50% Fiber Volume
V. CONCLUSION [5]
The test for vibration analysis of CFRP and GFRP panel
and CFRP and GFRP hybrid panels were conducted and
following results were obtained. [6]
1. The natural frequencies of CFRP composite panel are [7]
found to be higher than that of GFRP composite panel.
Carbon Fiber with 60 % Fiber Volume panel has higher
natural frequencies in comparison to Glass and Carbon [8]
Fiber with 50 % Fiber Volume panel.
2. However, Glass Fiber with 60 % Fiber Volume panel
and Glass and Carbon Fiber with 60 % Fiber Volume [9]
panel have almost similar natural frequencies.
3. Hybrid glass carbon/Epoxy panel have natural
frequencies similar than that of E-glass/epoxy panel,
but lower than that of carbon/epoxy panel. Moreover [10]
hybrid panel with 60% Fiber Volume has higher natural
[11]
frequencies compared to hybrid panel with 50% Fiber
Volume.
Thus composite panels can be designed for optimal [12]
structure and economic response for given geometry.
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55
Fig. 19 Deformed shape for 1st mode natural frequency for CFRP and
GFRP with 50% Fiber Volume
Experimental FEA (ANSYS)
Natural Frequency Natural Frequency
ω1 ω2 ω1 ω2
(Hz) (Hz) (Hz) (Hz)
262 380 262.83 359.46
291 352 256.05 350.32
246 352 256.06 350.2
242 357 245.2 350.3
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