Investigation of buckling behavior of nano-clay filled epoxy matrix based glass fiber reinforced composite laminates

In this study, the effect of nano-clay particles on buckling behavior of glass fiber reinforced based epoxy composite beams under load was experimentally investigated. Critical axial and lateral buckling load for composite laminates having 1, 1.5, 2 and 3wt.% nano-clay contents were obtained experimentally and compared with behavior of neat laminates. It has concluded that axial buckling load increases with about 8.6% at limited content of nano-clay of 1wt.%, in opposite, adding of nano-clay have no positive effect on the critical lateral buckling load. The effects of different fiber orientation angles on critical axial and lateral buckling load for similar laminates but with 1wt.% nano-clay content were also investigated. The depended orientation angles were 0/90o, 15/-75 o, 30/-60o and 45/-45o. The highest axial buckling load was with fiber orientation of angle 0/90o. The highest lateral buckling load was with fiber orientation of angle (15/-75o). Tensile and three-point bending tests were also performed for laminates of 1wt.% nano-clay at mentioned different fiber orientation angles. The results were obtained and analyzed to study the effect of fiber orientation angles mechanical properties of composite laminates. Results showed that fiber orientation angle has a significant effect on the tensile and flexural strengths of the examined composite laminates.