Effect of mesh sizes on the vibrational and acoustic properties of stainless-steel wire mesh/glass fiber reinforced hybrid composite laminates

TL;DR

This study shows how different mesh sizes in hybrid composite materials affect their stiffness, vibration damping, and noise reduction capabilities.

Contribution

The paper introduces a systematic evaluation of mesh size effects on both vibrational and acoustic properties of hybrid composites.

Findings

Mesh 40 (0.361 mm opening) showed the highest stiffness and natural frequency, making it suitable for stiffness-critical applications.

Finer meshes (80 and 120) improved damping ratios by up to 450% due to reduced stiffness and increased interfacial friction.

Mesh 120 provided better low-frequency noise reduction (9.24 dB mean) while mesh 40 excelled at high frequencies (15.85 dB mean).

Abstract

This research examines how stainless-steel wire mesh (SSWM) openings (10, 20, 40, 80, 120 openings per inch) impact the vibrational and acoustic behavior of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) hybrid composite laminates. Laminates (300 mm × 300 mm) were prepared by compression molding with a [GF0°/GF0°/GF0°/SSWM0°/GF0°/GF0°/GF0°] stacking sequence. Vibration tests, performed according to ASTM E756-05, showed that mesh 40 had the highest natural frequency (16.38 Hz), stiffness coefficient (232.51 N/m), and storage modulus (134.22 GPa), which were promoted by optimal mesh opening size (0.361 mm) and SSWM mass (116.8 g). Finer meshes (80, 120) improved damping ratios (up to 0.17 for mesh 120, an increase of 450% over mesh 40’s 0.03) owing to decreased stiffness and greater interfacial friction. Impedance tube measurements according to ISO 10534-2 indicated mesh 120 with better low-frequency transmission loss (9.24 dB mean, 15.23–16.53 dB at 67–90 Hz) because of its thin laminate (1.19 mm) and low SSWM mass (35.7 g). In contrast, mesh 40 performed best at high frequencies (15.85 dB mean, 23.56 dB at 6300 Hz). These results demonstrate the appropriateness of mesh 40 for stiffness-critical applications and mesh 120’s effectiveness for vibration damping and low-frequency noise reduction, and provide customized solutions for structural and acoustic performance in high-risk scenarios.

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