Variation of Mesh Peel Ply and Gelcoat on Mechanical Properties of Carbon Twill-Vinyl Ester Composites Using Vacuum Assisted Resin Infusion Manufacturing Method
Taufiq Satrio Nurtiasto1, Fajar Ari Wandono1, Nurul Lailatul Muzayadah1, and Rohmat Fazabik2

1. Aeronautics Technology Center LAPAN
2. Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Bengkulu

Abstract

This study discussed the mechanical properties of a modified carbon twill vinyl-ester composite using the Vacuum Assisted Resin Infusion (VARI) method. Modifications were made by adding the number of mesh peel ply and gelcoat. Mechanical properties testing was done to determine the average value of the tensile test and the average value of the shear test. The finite element simulation was also performed to compare the load versus displacement graph with the testing. The VARI composite with double mesh peel ply has an average tensile test value of 536.29 MPa. The VARI composite with the addition of gelcoat has an average tensile test value of 551.58 MPa. The tensile test results of the VARI with double mesh peel ply increased by 1.61%, while VARI with the addition of gelcoat increased 4.34% from the composite with the standard method of 527.62 MPa. The VARI composite with double mesh peel ply has an average shear test value of 20.90 MPa, while VARI composite with the addition of gelcoat has an average shear test value of 24.81 MPa. The tensile test results of the VARI with double mesh peel ply decreased 17.20%, while the VARI with the addition of gelcoat decreased 30.24% from the composite with the standard method of 29.97 MPa.

Keywords: Vacuum-Assisted Resin Infusion, Gelcoat, Mesh Peel Ply, Twill Carbon, Vinyl-Ester, Finite Element Simulation.

Topic: Materials Physics