Experimental and numerical bending deflection of cenosphere filled hybrid (Glass/Cenosphere/Epoxy) composite

The influence on flexural strength of Glass/Epoxy laminated composite curved panels of different geometries (cylindrical, spherical, elliptical, hyperboloid and flat) due to inclusion of nano cenosphere filler examined in this research article. The deflection responses of the hybrid structure are evaluated numerically using the isoparametric finite element technique and modelled mathematically via higher-order displacement structural kinematics. To predict the deflection values, a customised in-house computer code in MATLAB environment is prepared using the higher-order isoparametric formulation. Subsequently, the numerical model validity has been established by comparing with those of available benchmark solution including the convergence characteristics of the finite element solution. Further, a few cenosphere filled hybrid composite are prepared for different volume fractions for the experimental purpose, to review the propose model accuracy. The experimental deflection values are compared with the finite element solutions, where the experimental elastic properties are adopted for the computation. Finally, the effect of different variable design dependent parameter and the percentages of nano cenosphere including the geometrical shapes obtained via a set of numerical experimentation.