Erosion analysis of fiber reinforced epoxy composites

Lightweight and electrically nonconductive fiber reinforced hybrid epoxy composites have gained attentiveness within specific applications such as marine, automotive and aerospace. However, the components made from these materials can be subjected to significant erosion when they are used in shipping industries and water sports equipment. The present paper proposes to address this challenge by analysing the erosion resistance of glass fiber and silicon carbide (SiC) reinforced epoxy composites. Taguchi's methodology was adopted for the experimentation using the L-9 orthogonal array. Impingement angle, erodent type, and workpiece reinforcement were used as input process parameters, whereas erosion loss from the composite was perceived as a response parameter. Regression coefficients and equations for the erosion loss were derived from the regression analysis. The genetic algorithm (GA) was proposed to obtain authentication against Taguchi's methodology. The surface analysis of eroded composites and erodent particles was later evaluated by a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The comparative outcomes achieved from GA and Taguchi's methodology indicates that the angle of impingement and reinforcement size are the primary aspects that affect the erosion resistance of the composite surface.