Optimal fiber orientation and topology design for compliant mechanisms with fiber-reinforced composites

2016 ◽  
Vol 231 (12) ◽  
pp. 2302-2312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinxing Tong ◽  
Wenjie Ge ◽  
Yonghong Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Fiber Orientation ◽  
Strain Energy ◽  
Compliant Mechanisms ◽  
Linear Optimization ◽  
Topology Design ◽  
Fiber Reinforced ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
And Topology ◽  
Glass Fiber Reinforced ◽  
Design Variables

An approach for designing compliant mechanisms with glass fiber-reinforced epoxy materials is presented to obtain the optimum fiber orientation and topology structure simultaneously in this paper. Four-node hybrid stress elements and nodal design variables are adopted to suppress the islands and checkerboard phenomenon without additive filter technology and constraint. Taking fiber orientation and relative density as design variables, minimizing the weighted linear combination of the mutual strain energy and the strain energy is considered as objective function to achieve the desired deformation and enough load-carrying capacity of compliant mechanisms with the volume constraint. The displacement field of structure is obtained by the finite element analysis, and the non-linear optimization problem is solved via the well-known method of moving asymptotes. The numerical examples of designing compliant inverters and grippers with different weighted factors are investigated to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

scholarly journals Simulation of Glass Fiber Reinforced Polypropylene Nanocomposites for Small Wind Turbine Blades

Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 622
Author(s):  
Yasser Elhenawy ◽  
Yasser Fouad ◽  
Haykel Marouani ◽  
Mohamed Bassyouni
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Glass Fiber ◽  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Fiber Reinforced ◽  
Wind Turbine Blades ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Glass Fiber Reinforced ◽  
Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines ◽  
Multi Walled Carbon Nanotubes

This study aims to evaluate the effect of functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the performance of glass fiber (GF)-reinforced polypropylene (PP) for wind turbine blades. Support for theoretical blade movement of horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWTs), simulation, and analysis were performed with the Ansys computer package to gain insight into the durability of polypropylene-chopped E-glass for application in turbine blades under aerodynamic, gravitational, and centrifugal loads. Typically, polymer nanocomposites are used for small-scale wind turbine systems, such as for residential applications. Mechanical and physical properties of material composites including tensile and melt flow indices were determined. Surface morphology of polypropylene-chopped E-glass fiber and functionalized MWCNTs nanocomposites showed good distribution of dispersed phase. The effect of fiber loading on the mechanical properties of the PP nanocomposites was investigated in order to obtain the optimum composite composition and processing conditions for manufacturing wind turbine blades. The results show that adding MWCNTs to glass fiber-reinforced PP composites has a substantial influence on deflection reduction and adding them to chopped-polypropylene E-glass has a significant effect on reducing the bias estimated by finite element analysis.

scholarly journals Warpage Reduction of Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic Using Microcellular Foaming Process Applied Injection Molding

Polymers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyun Kim ◽  
Joo Sohn ◽  
Youngjae Ryu ◽  
Shin Kim ◽  
Sung Cha
Keyword(s):  
Injection Molding ◽  
Glass Fiber ◽  
Fiber Orientation ◽  
Mechanical And Thermal Properties ◽  
Micro Ct ◽  
Fiber Reinforced ◽  
Foaming Process ◽  
Microcellular Foaming ◽  
Glass Fiber Reinforced ◽  
The Impact

This study analyzes the fundamental principles and characteristics of the microcellular foaming process (MCP) to minimize warpage in glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP), which is typically worse than that of a solid polymer. In order to confirm the tendency for warpage and the improvement of this phenomenon according to the glass fiber content (GFC), two factors associated with the reduction of the shrinkage difference and the non-directionalized fiber orientation were set as variables. The shrinkage was measured in the flow direction and transverse direction, and it was confirmed that the shrinkage difference between these two directions is the cause of warpage of GFRP specimens. In addition, by applying the MCP to injection molding, it was confirmed that warpage was improved by reducing the shrinkage difference. To further confirm these results, the effects of cell formation on shrinkage and fiber orientation were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, micro-CT observation, and cell morphology analysis. The micro-CT observations revealed that the fiber orientation was non-directional for the MCP. Moreover, it was determined that the mechanical and thermal properties were improved, based on measurements of the impact strength, tensile strength, flexural strength, and deflection temperature for the MCP.

scholarly journals Theoretical and Numerical Analysis of an Aluminum Foam Sandwich Structure

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 113-124
Author(s):  
Alaa Al-Fatlawi ◽  
Károly Jármai ◽  
György Kovács
Keyword(s):  
Sandwich Structure ◽  
Aluminum Foam ◽  
Face Sheet ◽  
Fiber Reinforced ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Design Variables ◽  
Reinforced Plastic ◽  
Size Constraints ◽  
Theoretical And Numerical Analysis ◽  
Composite Face

The aim of the research was to develop a new lightweight sandwich structure, which can be used for elements of air containers. The structure consists of aluminum foam core with fiber reinforced composite face-sheets. Nine different laminated glass or/and carbon fiber reinforced plastic face-sheet combinations were investigated. Finite element analysis of the sandwich structures was introduced. Single-objective optimization of the new sandwich structure was achieved for minimal weight. Five design constraints were considered: stiffness of the structure, face-sheet failure, core shear, face-sheet wrinkling, size constraints for design variables. The elaborated composite structure results significant weight savings due to low density.

scholarly journals Influence of the Initial Fiber Orientation on the Weld Strength in Welding of Glass Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastics

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Fiebig ◽  
Volker Schoeppner
Keyword(s):  
Glass Fiber ◽  
Fiber Orientation ◽  
Weld Strength ◽  
Fiber Reinforced ◽  
Hot Plate ◽  
Glass Fiber Reinforced ◽  
Vibration Welding ◽  
Reinforced Thermoplastics ◽  
Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastics ◽  
Initial Fiber

The welding factors are significantly lower in welding of fiber reinforced thermoplastics than in welding of unreinforced thermoplastics due to the fiber orientation in the weld. This paper presents results from investigations on the influence of the initial fiber orientation on the weld strength in hot plate and vibration welding for glass fiber reinforced polypropylene and polyamide 6. Injection molded specimens are compared to specimens with main initial fiber orientation being longitudinal and transverse to the joining direction. The results of CT analysis of the fiber orientation in the weld show the opportunity to achieve a higher weld strength by using specimens with fibers being initially oriented longitudinally to the joining direction. The influence of the initial fiber orientation in the parts to be welded on the weld strength in hot plate welding is more distinct than in vibration welding.

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