Volume 18, Issue 5, 2009

OPTIMUM FIBRE CONTENT FOR MINIMUM WEIGHT MONOLITHIC COMPOSITE LAMINATES USING RULES OF MIXTURE

Stephen Grove

ACMC, School of Marine Science and Engineering, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK E-mail: s.grove@plym.ac.uk

Received 13 August 2009; accepted 22 October 2009

ABSTRACT
Using simple rules of mixtures for fibre composite tensile modulus and density, an expression is derived for the optimum fibre content for beams and panels made from monolithic laminates, assuming a minimum stiffness / weight design criterion. Values are considered for a range of typical fibre types, including natural fibres, in the light of practically achievable fibre contents.

Keywords: N/A