An experimental study on tensile and bending properties of biaxial warp knitted textile composites

This study presents the results of an experimental research on scrutinizing the tensile and flexural attributes of biaxial warp knitted (BWK) composites with different fabric weight content controlled by the density of the warp and weft fibres. Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) method has been used to produce composite laminates with two different fabric weights (813 and 1187 gr/m(2)) and with three different stacking sequences [90(we)/0(wa)/90(we)/0(wa)](s), [90(wa)/0(we)/90(wa)/0(we)](s) and [90(wa)/0(we)/90(we)/0(wa)](s), leading to six different types of composite panels, which are processed into a number of specimens for tensile and flexural tests. The fracture surfaces of the mechanically tested specimens have been examined microscopically. The results indicate that composites with lower weft and warp fibre thicknesses (thin-ply) show higher tensile and bending properties compared to those with higher weft and warp fibre thicknesses (thick-ply).