Experimental investigation of mechanical and vibration properties of mineral composite material for machine structure

In this study, a composite structure was created using epoxy resin as the matrix material, which is reported in many studies to have a higher vibration damping capacity that conventional metal materials. To improve the rigidity of the normally flexible epoxy resin, basalt granules and silica sand particles were used in the composite structure, while to improve the strength of the structure, which became more fragile as the rigidity was increased, and to create a form with fibers, the composite structure was reinforced with glass fiber. The materials to be used in a composite structure need to be pre-processed, as skipping this step and using them directly as supplied can lead to negative results. Accordingly, material preparation processes have been developed for application prior to the casting and laying of the materials for the composite structure. Undesirable situations may also arise during casting as materials with different characteristics are used, and so a separate casting process has been developed. The criteria of suitability for automation was taken into account in the development of all the processes. Tests were conducted with metal, wooden and polymer molding materials, and the most appropriate mold materials for prototype and mass production were identified. Vibration damping and tensile tests were conducted on samples of different mixes, and the mechanical characteristics of the developed materials were identified. The tests made it possible to identify the material mixture ratios that best approximated the optimum mechanical characteristics, and identified those most suitable for industrial use. The effects of reinforcement materials on the mechanical characteristics of the composite structure were examined, and their strengths and drawbacks were identified.