Fracture toughness response of glass/epoxy composite in symmetric and asymmetric design layup

Composites are used in transportation industries for their exceptional strength, reduced weight, and cost. Their performance depends upon many factors, such as stacking sequence, fiber volume fraction (FVF), etc. In the present work, glass/epoxy composites are prepared in symmetric (ɸn/θ2n/ɸn//ɸn/θ2n/ɸn) and asymmetric (θn/ɸ2n/θn//ɸn/θ2n/ɸn) configuration with FVF of 48.13 and 61.34%. The laminate performance was evaluated using interlaminar shear strength, flexural, and mode-II interlaminar fracture toughness tests. The results indicate that symmetric layup has better mechanical strength than asymmetric layup. The interlaminar shear strength, flexural, and fracture toughness of asymmetric layup were lower by 14.72–16.39, 12.54–16.72, and 11.92–17.98%, respectively. Further, low FVF specimens had better mechanical strength, and high FVF specimens showed lower strength by 3.67–5.56, 10.75–15.17, and 23.53–28.79%, respectively,