Experimental and Numerical Validation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Structure Fabricated using Graphene based Polymer Matrix Composites

Abstract

This paper describes the investigation of the polymer matrix composite laminate of epoxy resin systems and graphene oxide (GO) reinforced with glass fiber. The laminates of epoxy glass fiber reinforced with GO has been fabricated by hand layup method and the fabricated laminate is further cut into test specimens as per ASTM standards and tested for their strength and stiffness. As per the experimental studies, the strength to weight ratio is increased. An attempt has also been made to observe how the different volume addition (1.5%, 3%, 4.5% and 6%) of GO to epoxy matrix has affected the tensile strength, Young’s modulus and % elongation of the laminate made of composite. The outcome of the experimental characterization of the composites has encouraged further choosing epoxy / GO (1.5% by volume) towards fabricating a simplified version of UAV. Laminate code EPWM12, an epoxy / GO woven mat 12-layer composite, has the satisfying peak load carrying capacity as well as three-point flexural strength as opposed to other four materials considered in this study. The Monte Carlo simulation showed that likelihood of EPWM12 material being safe for UAV is 96%.