The effect of curing conditions and fiber end shapes on the mechanical properties of composites

Abstract

The study consists of two main experimental parts. The aim of the first part of the study is to investigate the effects of the straight-short steel fibers and different curing conditions on the mechanical properties of the selected composite specimens. For this purpose, unreinforced (no fiber) specimens cured at room temperature (similar to 20 degrees C) and the straight-short steel fiber reinforced polyester-calcite composite specimens cured at room temperature and at different curing conditions of 40, 80, and 120 degrees C for 4, 8, and 12 h, have been subjected to tensile tests. In the second part of the study, unreinforced specimens and polyester-calcite composite specimens with straight-short, woven, and three different end shaped fibers cured at room temperature have been tested according to the four-point bending test procedure so as to obtain the effects of the end shapes on the mechanical properties of the composite specimens.