Tensile and flexural behaviour of glass fibre reinforced plastic – Aluminium hybrid laminate manufactured by vacuum resin transfer moulding technique (VARTM)

Abstract The onset of technological advancements has resulted in the need for lightweight materials with superior properties for applications in critical areas such as aerospace and defence sectors, instigating the development of fibre metal laminates (FML). This paper focuses on the evaluation of tensile properties of the 5 layered glass fibre reinforced plastic (GFRP) – aluminium metal sheet (Al) laminate, fabricated by vacuum assisted resin transfer method (VARTM) fitted with spiral tube throughout the periphery of the laminated prepreg. The flexural and tensile properties of the manufactured composite were compared with theoretical values obtained from the FEA simulation of CAD models. The GF- Al composite manufactured by VARTM exhibited excellent properties in agreement with theoretical values that can be apparently attributed to the reduction of void formation in the composite as result of introduction of spirals throughout the length of the glass fibre – aluminium laminated composite.