Experimental investigations on performance and failure mechanisms of glass fiber‐reinforced acrylonitrile butadiene styrene composites considering mesh density effect

Abstract Radar and transmission equipment are frequently placed within protective enclosures. Conventional thermosetting composite enclosures, generally constructed from glass fiber (GF)‐reinforced epoxy, provide superior radio wave transmission but have difficulties with repairability. GF‐reinforced acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) composites may replace this structural component, improving repairability. However, there is a lack of research on mixing GF and ABS composites with GF mesh to improve mechanical performance. This study compares the mechanical properties of unidirectional GF/ABS composites and GF mesh, focusing on mesh density. Three GF mesh densities (1, 3, and 5 mm ² ) were considered by combining unidirectional GF/ABS with all meshes and compared to a unidirectional GF/ABS composite alone. The tensile and flexural properties and failure modes were analyzed to determine the influence of fiber inclusion and mesh density on the composites' overall performance. The findings indicate that the incorporation of GF mesh markedly improves the tensile strength and Young's modulus at 164.63 MPa and 13 GPa, respectively, in comparison to composites lacking GF mesh. Moreover, an increase in mesh density is associated with enhanced structural integrity and load‐bearing capability, with the lesser density (5 mm ² ) attaining superior flexural strength at 64.97 MPa. This study highlights the trade‐offs of increased density, including flexibility and manufacturability, while emphasizing the suitability of these composites for aircraft components and structural elements that require high strength and elasticity to resist tension and flexural loadings. The results provide a baseline on enhancing fiber reinforcement techniques to attain optimized mechanical properties in advanced composite structures. Highlights The effect of mesh density on GF/ABS composites performance was assessed. GF/ABS with 1, 3, and 5 mm ² meshes were compression molded. 5 mm ² of GF/ABS has higher strength and modulus, with values of 164.63 MPa and 13 GPa, respectively. 5 mm ² of GF/ABS has superior shear strength at 64.97 MPa. Failure mechanisms included fiber protrusion, delamination, and flexural failure.