الفهرس 
Methods for preparing FRP composite materialOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Composite materials have been used in many applications such as aerospace, marine,
railways, and construction industries. Composite materials have enhanced properties over metals
such as large weigh reduction, excellent mechanical and chemical properties. Therefore, it gains
special position when developing vehicles.
Suspension system is one of the vital components during the vehicles design. Leaf springs are
considered as one of the most important components of the suspension system. It is as an elastic
body, whose function is to distort when loaded and to recover its original shape when the load is
removed by means of spring deflection. This deflection generates potential energy in the leaf
spring which is then relieved slowly. The ability to store more amount of strain energy ensures a
comfortable suspension system. Leaf springs are used in suspension system to safeguard the
vehicle and the occupants.
This work deals with the replacement of steel leaf spring with composite leaf spring. Strain
energy for both steel and composite leaf spring is obtained. In addition, this work aims to
investigate flexural test of composite material under three point bending as it is an important
aspect for leaf springs. Composite leaf spring has better durability, higher stiffness and load
carrying capability which can improve the flexural strength compared to that made from steel. In
order to improve bending properties, aluminum oxide (Al2O3) and silicon carbide (SiC) nano-
particles fillers are added to the composite with different weight ratios at 0, 1, 3, and 5 wt.% in
both monolithic and hybrid forms. Experimental and finite element analysis on glass fiber
reinforced polyester with/without fillers are done. The finite element analysis was done via
ANSYS software. The results show that the fillers improve the bending properties up to limiting
values and then decrease. Where, the maximum value of flexural strength for Al2O3 nano fillers
occurs at 3 wt.% with a value of 482.17 MPa and for SiC and hybrid of Al2O3 & SiC occur at 1
wt.% with values of 420.79 and 434.85 MPa, respectively.