scholarly journals Use of microfasteners to produce damage tolerant composite structures

Author(s):  
Ivana K. Partridge ◽  
Stephen R. Hallett

The paper concerns the mechanical performance of continuous fibre/thermosetting polymer matrix composites reinforced in the through-thickness direction with fibrous or metallic rods or threads in order to mitigate against low delamination resistance. Specific illustrations of the effects of microfasteners in reducing delamination crack growth are made for Z-pinned and tufted composites. Response to loading in such ‘structured materials’ is subject to multiple parameters defining their in-plane and out-of-plane properties. Single microfastener mechanical tests are well suited to establish the crack bridging laws under a range of loading modes, from simple delamination crack opening to shear, and provide the basis for predicting the corresponding response of microfastener arrays, within a given material environment. The fundamental experiments on microfasteners can be used to derive analytical expressions to describe the crack bridging behaviour in a general sense, to cover all possible loadings. These expressions can be built into cohesive element constitutive laws in a finite-element framework for modelling the effects of microfastener arrays on the out-of-plane mechanical response of reinforced structural elements, including the effects of known manufacturing imperfections. Such predictive behaviour can then be used to assess structural integrity under complex loading, as part of the component design process. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Multiscale modelling of the structural integrity of composite materials’.

2005 ◽  
Vol 482 ◽  
pp. 51-54
Author(s):  
Y. Katz ◽  
W. Mook ◽  
R. Mukherjee ◽  
A. Gidwani ◽  
J. Deneen ◽  
...  

In elastic plastic solids, approaching the sub micron scale, critical experiments indicated significant differences in the mechanical response. Thus, mainly in small volume behavior a length scale issue is introduced with implications on the basic understanding of deformation and fracture processes. The current study is centered on the mechanical response of silicon particles in the range of 20-50 nm on sapphire substrate. Monotonic and cyclic mechanical tests have been performed by contact mechanics methodology at ambient temperature. Mechanical information and visualization assisted by scanning probe microscope-based nano indentation alluded to a model founded on dislocation dynamic effects. This facilitated developments regarding the length scale subject in the light of fatigue concepts and structural integrity aspects.


2021 ◽  
pp. 002199832110316
Author(s):  
Mohammadhossein Ghayour ◽  
Mehdi Hojjati ◽  
Rajamohan Ganesan

Automated manufacturing defects are new types of composite structure defects induced during fiber deposition by robots. Fiber tow gap is one of the most probable types of defects observed in the Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) technique. This defect can affect the structural integrity of structures by reducing structural strength and stiffness. The effect of this defect on the mechanical response of the composite laminates has been investigated experimentally in the literature. However, there is still no efficient numerical/analytical method for damage assessment of composite structures with distributed induced gaps manufactured by the AFP technique. The present paper aims to develop the Induced Defect Layer Method (IDLM), a new robust meso-macro model for damage analysis of the composite laminates with gaps. In this method, a geometrical parameter, Gap Percentage (GP), is implemented to incorporate the effect of induced-gaps in the elastic, inelastic, and softening behavior at the material points. Thus, while the plasticity and failure of the resin pockets in conjunction with intralaminar composite damages can be evaluated by this method, the defective areas are not required to be defined as resin elements in the Finite Element (FE) models. It can also be applied for any arbitrary distributions of the defects in the multi-layer composite structures, making it a powerful tool for continuum damage analysis of large composite structures. Results indicate that the proposed method can consider the effect of gaps in both elastic and inelastic behavior of the composite laminate with defects. It also provides good agreement with the experimental results.


2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 162-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenyu Wu ◽  
Maolin Wang ◽  
Zhiping Ying ◽  
Xiaoying Cheng ◽  
Xudong Hu

This paper reports the mechanical response of semi-hexagonal part with three different multi-layer reinforcements. Unidirectional, plain woven and orthogonal fabric under quasi-static axial compression were considered. Meso-scale finite element numerical models with failure criterion were also established to simulate the onset and development of internal damage during the compression process. There were two different crush-failure modes occurring in the crush tests of the three different composite samples: a splaying mode for samples with unidirectional fabric, a buckling mode for samples with 3D orthogonal woven fabric and a mixture mode of both buckling and splaying for samples with the plain woven fabric. The samples reinforced by unidirectional fiber have the highest specific energy absorption and lowest peak loading, whereas the samples by 3D orthogonal fabric present the lowest specific energy absorption and highest peak loading. It was also demonstrated by a numerical model that the existence of Z-binder suppresses the delamination by restraining the expanding of warp and weft yarns. The comparison of numerical results and experimental data indicates that the structure of reinforcement has a significant role in the mechanical performance of textile composite.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 449-478
Author(s):  
Peter W. R. Beaumont

Abstract Empirical or semi-empirical design methodologies at the macroscopic scale (structural level) can be supported and justified only by a fundamental understanding at the lower (microscopic) size scale through the physical model. Today structural integrity (SI) is thought as the optimisation of microstructure by controlling processing coupled with intelligent manufacturing of the material: to maximise mechanical performance and ensure reliability of the large scale structure; and to avoid calamity and misfortune. SI analysis provides quantitative input to the formulation of an appropriately balanced response to the problem. This article demonstrates that at the heart of the matter are those mechanisms of crack nucleation and growth that affect the structural integrity of the material: microscopic cracking events that are usually too small to observe and viewed only by microscopy.


2022 ◽  
Vol 334 ◽  
pp. 04020
Author(s):  
Marwa Ouerghemmi ◽  
Christophe Carral ◽  
Patrice Mele

One of the most important components of PEMFC is the gas diffusion layer (GDL), owing to its key role in the reactant diffusion, water management, thermal and electron conductivity. Therefore, the GDL must have an optimal stiffness to ensure these transport functions during numerous hydrothermal cycles. The understanding of its behavior is still a remaining issue. Its orthotropic mechanical behavior requires a series of mechanical characterizations in the plane of the fibers and out of plane. In addition, there are different manufacturing processes for GDL in sheet or roll form to optimize its functional properties. A macro porous layer (MPL) or different PTFE contents might be added by different manufacturers to optimize its performance. In this study, we have performed several mechanical tests differentiating between in plane and out of plane properties in order to characterize different GDLs available on the market. All of the experimental work has been done in the machine (MD) and cross machine direction (CD) according to the fiber orientation. The different GDL types were then classified into categories presenting similar mechanical response.


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (21) ◽  
pp. 6374
Author(s):  
Houyao Zhu ◽  
Zhixin Li ◽  
Ruikun Wang ◽  
Shouyan Chen ◽  
Chunliang Zhang ◽  
...  

Although Miura origami has excellent planar expansion characteristics and good mechanical properties, its congenital flaws, e.g., open sections leading to weak out-of-plane stiffness and constituting the homogenization of the material, and resulting in limited design freedom, should also be taken seriously. Herein, two identical Miura sheets, made of carbon fiber/epoxy resin composite, were bonded to form a tubular structure with closed sections, i.e., an origami tube. Subsequently, the dynamic performances, including the nature frequency and the dynamic displacement response, of the designed origami tubes were extensively investigated through numerical simulations. The outcomes revealed that the natural frequency and corresponding dynamic displacement response of the structure can be adjusted in a larger range by varying the geometric and material parameters, which is realized by combining origami techniques and the composite structures’ characteristics. This work can provide new ideas for the design of light-weight and high-mechanical-performance structures.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 1949
Author(s):  
Ling Ding ◽  
Wei Lu ◽  
Jiaqi Zhang ◽  
Chuncheng Yang ◽  
Guofeng Wu

Literature has reported the successful use of 3D printed polyetheretherketone (PEEK) to fabricate human body implants and oral prostheses. However, the current 3D printed PEEK (brown color) cannot mimic the vivid color of oral tissues and thus cannot meet the esthetical need for dental application. Therefore, titanium dioxide (TiO2) and ferric oxide (Fe2O3) were incorporated into PEEK to prepare a series of tooth-color and gingival-color PEEK composites in this study. Through color measurements and mechanical tests, the color value and mechanical performance of the 3D printed PEEK composites were evaluated. In addition, duotone PEEK specimens were printed by a double nozzle with an interface between tooth-color and gingival-color parts. The mechanical performance of duotone PEEK with two different interfaces (horizontal and vertical) was investigated. With the addition of TiO2 and Fe2O3, the colors of 3D printed PEEK composites become closer to that of dental shade guides. 3D printed PEEK composites generally demonstrated superior tensile and flexural properties and hence have great potential in the dental application. In addition, duotone 3D printed PEEK with a horizontal interfacial orientation presented better mechanical performance than that with a vertical one.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saurabhi Samant ◽  
Wei Wu ◽  
Shijia Zhao ◽  
Behram Khan ◽  
Mohammadali Sharzehee ◽  
...  

AbstractLeft main (LM) coronary artery bifurcation stenting is a challenging topic due to the distinct anatomy and wall structure of LM. In this work, we investigated computationally and experimentally the mechanical performance of a novel everolimus-eluting stent (SYNERGY MEGATRON) purpose-built for interventions to large proximal coronary segments, including LM. MEGATRON stent has been purposefully designed to sustain its structural integrity at higher expansion diameters and to provide optimal lumen coverage. Four patient-specific LM geometries were 3D reconstructed and stented computationally with finite element analysis in a well-validated computational stent simulation platform under different homogeneous and heterogeneous plaque conditions. Four different everolimus-eluting stent designs (9-peak prototype MEGATRON, 10-peak prototype MEGATRON, 12-peak MEGATRON, and SYNERGY) were deployed computationally in all bifurcation geometries at three different diameters (i.e., 3.5, 4.5, and 5.0 mm). The stent designs were also expanded experimentally from 3.5 to 5.0 mm (blind analysis). Stent morphometric and biomechanical indices were calculated in the computational and experimental studies. In the computational studies the 12-peak MEGATRON exhibited significantly greater expansion, better scaffolding, smaller vessel prolapse, and greater radial strength (expressed as normalized hoop force) than the 9-peak MEGATRON, 10-peak MEGATRON, or SYNERGY (p < 0.05). Larger stent expansion diameters had significantly better radial strength and worse scaffolding than smaller stent diameters (p < 0.001). Computational stenting showed comparable scaffolding and radial strength with experimental stenting. 12-peak MEGATRON exhibited better mechanical performance than the 9-peak MEGATRON, 10-peak MEGATRON, or SYNERGY. Patient-specific computational LM stenting simulations can accurately reproduce experimental stent testing, providing an attractive framework for cost- and time-effective stent research and development.


2014 ◽  
Vol 617 ◽  
pp. 104-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milan Žmindák ◽  
Zoran Pelagić ◽  
Maroš Bvoc

In the recent years a big focus is subjected to the response of structures subjected to out-of-plane loading such as blasts, impact, etc. not only to homogenous materials, but also to heterogeneous materials, such as composites. Such form of loading can cause considerable damage to the structure. In the case of layered composite materials the damage can have several forms, starting from damage in layers up to delamination and full damage of the construction. This paper describes the investigation of shockwave propagation in composite structures caused by impact loading. The composite consists of carbon fibers in a polymer matrix, in which the fibers are much stiffer then the matrix. Finite element simulations were carried out for a “bird” strike impact on a composite wing leading edge. Results show a good impact resistance and good damping abilities of shockwaves.


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