Tensile and compressive mechanical properties of polyurethane foam plastics reinforced by glass fiber bundles

The quasi-static tensile and compressive experiments were performed in order to investigate the mechanical properties of conventional polyurethane foam plastics and reinforced ones by glass fiber bundles. The influence of material density and mass content of glass fiber bundles on mechanical properties was analyzed. It is observed from tests that the tensile samples happen to fracture suddenly along perpendicular direction with loading, which appears to be a brittle break. And the compressive rupture samples exist obliquely chapped block on the surface of cylinder. The experimental results show that the stress-strain curves of reinforced foams plastics are same with those of conventional foams. The young-s modulus and strength of the material can be improved by glass fiber bundles. If the density of the material is larger, and the volume fraction of the resin matrix as well as the glass fiber bundles is higher, the reinforced effect on the resin matrix by glass fiber bundles will be better.