Optically-derived mechanical properties of glass fiber-reinforced polymer laminates for multifunctional load-bearing structures. (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pascual, Carlos; de Castro, Julia; Kostro, André; Schueler, Andreas; Vassilopoulos, Anastasios P; Keller, Thomas
• Is Part Of: Journal of composite materials. Volume 49:Number 28(2015)
• Page Start: 3539
• Page End: 3556
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: Glass fiber-reinforced polymer -- goniophotometry -- light scattering -- multifunctional structure -- regular transmittance -- translucency; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Composites -- Périodiques; 620.118
• DOI: 10.1177/0021998314567696
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9983

Abstract

This paper demonstrates how the translucency of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) laminates allows the derivation of their mechanical properties through optical measurements. Spectrophotometric, goniophotometric and tensile experiments were performed on unidirectional and cross-ply hand lay-up GFRP laminates with fiber volume fractions ranging from 0.15 to 0.45. An analytical model to predict the directional fiber volume fractions—and thus the mechanical properties of GFRP laminates—has been developed based on the total and diffuse transmittance and directional light scattering of the laminates. It is demonstrated that structurally optimized GFRP laminates can meet the requirements for GFRP skylights and the encapsulation of photovoltaic cells into translucent GFRP laminates.