Advancing the Durability of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Composites for Building Hollow Beams

Additive manufacturing, a highly effective and versatile method, is widely recognized for its ability to create various structures like office and residential buildings, interior partitions, boundary walls, and architectural components. This study is centered on enhancing hollow beams through the use of fused filament fabrication (FFF) technology, utilizing carbon fiber-reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) materials. The primary focus is on investigating the vibration properties of these beams, particularly examining their stiffness and damping characteristics. Through the application of free vibration testing using an impulse hammer, an analysis was carried out on the natural frequency and damping. Notably, the outcomes reveal that carbon fiber-reinforced ABS exhibits superior damping performance compared to PLA under similar circumstances. Moreover, flexural tests were executed following ASTM standards to evaluate the stiffness of the materials when subjected to transverse vibrations. The findings suggest that ABS when reinforced with carbon fiber, showcases enhanced stiffness and damping properties in comparison to PLA. This detailed examination underscores the benefits of integrating carbon fiber-reinforced ABS into additive manufacturing practices, especially in the construction of hollow beams for diverse structural requirements.