Effects of stacking sequence on mechanical properties of hybrid composites reinforced with carbon, Kevlar and S-glass fibers

This study explores the influences of laminates stacking sequence configuration on the mechanical behavior of hybrid composites. The woven carbon, Kevlar and S-glass fibers with epoxy resin were used to produce hybrid composite specimens in addition to full composites. The hybrid specimens were prepared by introducing different fiber volume fractions between carbon/glass, carbon/Kevlar, glass/Kevlar and carbon/glass/Kevlar fibers. Stacking sequence and fibers in outer skin of the laminates obviously showed the effective influence on tensile and flexural strength with modulus. The maximum change in tensile strength due to hybridization effect was achieved with carbon/glass epoxy laminate by replacing the two face sheets of the carbon fibers with glass fibers, resulting in an increase of tensile strength by 60 % according to full carbon/epoxy laminates. On the other hand, flexural strength of glass/Kevlar hybrid laminates showed the highest hybrid effect, resulting in 78 % increase according to full Kevlar/epoxy composites.