Flexural studies on asymmetric hybrid Kevlar fabric/epoxy composites

For composites reinforced with Kevlar fabrics, the method of asymmetric hybridization is employed for the improvement of flexural properties such as maximum fibre yield stress and modulus of elasticity in bending. Calculations based on the elastic-plastic analysis are used to assess the shift in the neutral axis during bending, and the bimaterial beam model is invoked to estimate the arrangement and replacement of Kevlar fibres by carbon fibres in the compression face, for two relative fibre orientations. Flexural properties of the bimaterial are compared with those of unmodified Kevlar/epoxy composite for three different loading rates. Scanning electron microscopic examination of the fracture features is discussed.