The compressive behaviour of unidirectional and bidirectional hybrid composites

Hybrid composites are attractive engineering materials due to the potential cost savings which can be achieved by partial replacement of more expensive types of reinforcement. Further interest in these materials surrounds the possibility of achieving a more desirable balance of certain mechanical properties in order to obtain an overall material performance that cannot be realised by systems containing only one type of reinforcement. The major objective of this work was to achieve a better understanding of the compressive behaviour of both thermoplastic and thermosetting matrix, hybrid composites. [Continues.]