Bending, compression, and shear behavior of woven glass fiber–epoxy composites

The mechanical properties and failure mechanisms of through-the-thickness stitched plain weave glass fabric–epoxy composites were studied. Unstitched plain weave and biaxial non-crimp fabrics were used for comparison. Composite panels were fabricated using Resin Transfer Molding. Z-directional stitching increased the delamination resistance and lowered the bending strength of the composites. Composites made from through-the-thickness stitched fabrics demonstrated improved compression after impact behavior as compared to the unstitched fabrics. The results presented in this investigation should be useful in tailoring textile composites to achieve specific property goals.