Experimental and Numerical Analysis of the Strain Response of Additively Manufactured Composites
- 1Department of Applied Mechanics and Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Košice, Letná 1/9, 042 00 Košice-Sever, Slovakia
- 2Department of Production Systems and Robotics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Košice, Letná 1/9, 042 00 Košice-Sever, Slovakia
Abstract
This paper investigates the effect of reinforcement layer configuration and storage duration (year of manufacture) on the strain response of 3D-printed composite components. For the analysis, a methodology based on strain gauge measurements of cantilever beams produced via additive manufacturing from Onyx reinforced with continuous glass fibers was employed. Two sets of specimens, incorporating two reinforcement densities (2 and 4 layers) and distinct layup arrangements, were printed for experimental testing. The first set was stored for three years at 22 ± 2 °C and 35 ± 5% relative humidity, while the second set was printed immediately prior to testing. Quasi-static bending strains and fundamental natural frequencies were captured using surface-mounted strain gauges on the top and bottom surfaces of the beams. A comprehensive analysis of the results demonstrated that the proposed strain gauge-based experimental methodology did not confirm a dominant effect of stored conditions on the monitored mechanical characteristics. Conversely, the methodology successfully identified local strain asymmetry, which became evident upon a detailed comparison of experimental quasi-static and dynamic measurements. To evaluate computational strategies, four modeling approaches combined with analytical and numerical homogenization techniques were implemented. The results revealed that global homogenization continuum models overpredict bending strains due to averaging elastic properties across the cross-section. In contrast, explicit layered shell and 3D solid composite models provided good agreement with experimental measurements. The results confirm that the arrangement of reinforcement layers significantly influences the mechanical properties of the specimens.
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BibTeX
@article{pastor2026experimental,
title = {{Experimental and Numerical Analysis of the Strain Response of Additively Manufactured Composites}},
author = {Miroslav Pástor and Pavol Lengvarský and Jozef Svetlík},
journal = {Polymers},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/polym18212697},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/21/2697},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Experimental and Numerical Analysis of the Strain Response of Additively Manufactured Composites
AU - Miroslav Pástor
AU - Pavol Lengvarský
AU - Jozef Svetlík
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/31
JO - Polymers
DO - 10.3390/polym18212697
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/21/2697
AB - This paper investigates the effect of reinforcement layer configuration and storage duration (year of manufacture) on the strain response of 3D-printed composite components. For the analysis, a methodology based on strain gauge measurements of cantilever beams produced via additive manufacturing from Onyx reinforced with continuous glass fibers was employed. Two sets of specimens, incorporating two reinforcement densities (2 and 4 layers) and distinct layup arrangements, were printed for experimental testing. The first set was stored for three years at 22 ± 2 °C and 35 ± 5% relative humidity, while the second set was printed immediately prior to testing. Quasi-static bending strains and fundamental natural frequencies were captured using surface-mounted strain gauges on the top and bottom surfaces of the beams. A comprehensive analysis of the results demonstrated that the proposed strain gauge-based experimental methodology did not confirm a dominant effect of stored conditions on the monitored mechanical characteristics. Conversely, the methodology successfully identified local strain asymmetry, which became evident upon a detailed comparison of experimental quasi-static and dynamic measurements. To evaluate computational strategies, four modeling approaches combined with analytical and numerical homogenization techniques were implemented. The results revealed that global homogenization continuum models overpredict bending strains due to averaging elastic properties across the cross-section. In contrast, explicit layered shell and 3D solid composite models provided good agreement with experimental measurements. The results confirm that the arrangement of reinforcement layers significantly influences the mechanical properties of the specimens.
SN - 2073-4360
ER -