Fiber reinforced composite based functionally gradient materials

Abstract

A method of fabricating fiber-reinforced composite based functionally gradient material is described in this paper. The material has continuously varying mechanical properties along the length. The continuous variation of the mechanical properties is achieved by continuously varying the fiber orientation using the braiding process. The test results indicate an elastic modulus increase by about 42% from the largest braid angle to the smallest braid angle for the material system and the orientation angle considered in the present study.