Authors: Souda Pranavi, Vardelli Disharani, Peddamma Stalin, P.V.R.Ravindra Reddy
Abstract: The demand for lightweight, high-strength, and corrosion-resistant structural materials has significantly increased in aerospace, automotive, marine, and civil engineering industries. Carbon–epoxy composite materials have emerged as one of the most promising alternatives to conventional metallic materials because of their superior mechanical and thermal properties . Among various structural configurations, composite I-section beams have attracted considerable attention due to their excellent bending stiffness, high strength-to-weight ratio, fatigue resistance, and structural efficiency. This review paper presents a detailed overview of carbon–epoxy composite I-section beams with emphasis on material properties, fabrication techniques, finite element analysis, experimental investigations, failure mechanisms, optimization strategies, and structural applications. The paper critically examines the influence of fiber orientation, stacking sequence, laminate thickness, curing conditions, and manufacturing defects on the structural performance of composite beams. Advanced fabrication methods such as prepreg layup, vacuum bagging, and autoclave curing are discussed in detail. Recent developments in finite element modeling for stress, strain, deflection, fatigue, and buckling analyses are also reviewed. Furthermore, various non-destructive evaluation techniques used for identifying internal defects and monitoring structural integrity are examined. The review identifies major research gaps in composite beam development and highlights future opportunities for high-performance lightweight structural systems.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20445172
