ItemArticle

Flexural performance of FDM-fabricated PLA composites reinforced with short carbon fiber

Title
Flexural performance of FDM-fabricated PLA composites reinforced with short carbon fiber
Creator
Keshavamurthy, R.; Yogaraju, Raghu; Kumar, G S Pradeep; Biradar, Mallikarjun; Pavan, Kumar B.; Kumar, S. Mohan; Thomas, Shijo
Description
Adding short carbon fiber reinforcement to thermoplastic matrices can improve the mechanical performance of additively manufactured polymer-based composites. This work examines the flexural behavior of Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)-produced polylactic acid (PLA)-based composites enhanced by short carbon fibers at 3 wt% and 6 wt%. For comparison, unreinforced PLA specimens were also fabricated under identical processing conditions. All the samples were tested for flexural strength using a three-point bend test, following the ASTM standards for polymer composites. The results showed a clear improvement in strength as the reinforcement content increased. The PLA composite with the 3% short carbon fiber reinforcement showed a noticeable increase in load-bearing ability, while the 6% reinforced composite had an impressive 88% higher flexural strength than the plain PLA. To examine how the materials failed, SEM has been utilized to assess the samples' fractured surfaces. 2026, Gruppo Italiano Frattura. All rights reserved.
Source
Fracture and Structural Integrity;Volume;20;Issue;77;pp.217-229
Date
01-01-2026
Publisher
Gruppo Italiano Frattura
Subject
Flexural Strength; Fracture Mechanisms; Fused Deposition Modelling; PLA Composites; Short Carbon Fiber
Coverage
Keshavamurthy R., Department of Automotive Technology, Christ University, Bangalore, 560074, India; Yogaraju R., Department of Mechanical Engineering, B. M. S College of Engineering, Bengaluru, 560004, India; Kumar G.S.P., Department of Automotive Technology, Christ University, Bangalore, 560074, India; Biradar M., Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dayananda Sagar Academy of Technology and Management, Bangalore, 560082, India; Pavan K.B., Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ballari Institute of Technology and Management, Ballari, 583104, India; Kumar S.M., Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amrita School of Engineering, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Bengaluru, 560035, India; Thomas S., Department of Automotive Technology, Christ University, Bangalore, 560074, India
Rights
All Open Access; Gold Open Access; Green Open Access
Relation
ISSN: 19718993;
Format
online
Language
English
Type
Article

Citation

Keshavamurthy, R.; Yogaraju, Raghu; Kumar, G S Pradeep; Biradar, Mallikarjun; Pavan, Kumar B.; Kumar, S. Mohan; Thomas, Shijo, “Flexural performance of FDM-fabricated PLA composites reinforced with short carbon fiber,” CHRIST (Deemed To Be University) Institutional Repository, accessed June 18, 2026, https://archives.christuniversity.in/items/show/23502.

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