Structure–tensile property relationship of knitted fabric composites

Abstract This paper reports some further studies on the tensile properties of plain weft knitted DuPont Kevlar fiber fabric reinforced epoxy matrix composites. One aim of this work is to investigate systematically the anisotropy of knitted fabric composites. Tensile tests were conducted at different off‐axial angles (0°, 30°, 45°, 60° and 90°) with respect to the wale direction. Fracture modes corresponding to this off‐axial variation were clearly identified. The elastic modulus and tensile strength were found to be the highest in the wale direction (0°), but decreased gradually towards the course direction (90°). This anisotropic study was carried out on both single layered and multilayered (four layered) knitted fabric composites. Another aim is to study the effect of specimen width (or number of loops per specimen width) on the tensile properties. This study indicated an optimum number of loops per sample width required to obtain meaningful tensile test results. Further, edge effect on the tensile properties of the knitted fabric composites was also investigated in the paper. This was achieved through comparative studies on cut and uncut four layered specimens. In the cut specimens the continuity of the yarns is lost at the cut edges, which show a marginal variation in the properties compared with the uncut specimens where the yarns are continuous throughout the specimen. Finally, a study was also carried out to investigate the effect of loop size (or stitch density) on the tensile strength and stiffness of the single layered composites.