Computational micromechanical modelling of the material removal process in a carbon fibre composite under single-erodent particle impact

A multiscale model is developed to understand the material removal process in a unidirectional carbon fibre epoxy composite impacted by a single-erodent particle. The embedded cell approach is used to model the carbon fibre and epoxy at a microscale. The micromodel is embedded centrally in the macroscale lamina of the composite plate. The carbon fibre is considered to be elastic with orthotropic strain limits as the failure criteria. The epoxy matrix is modelled as an elastic--plastic material with multilinear isotropic hardening. The maximum equivalent plastic strain limit is used as the matrix material failure limit. Using this embedded micromechanics model, the role of matrix and the fibre in developing the composite material erosion behaviour has been clearly elucidated. The results from the simulation indicate the change in the matrix erosion behaviour as a function of the fibre volume fraction. For the current thermoset matrix, material erosion response changes from brittle behaviour to ductile behaviour with an increase in fibre volume fraction. The current study has been able to highlight the individual role of matrix and the fibre in developing the semi-ductile erosion response peculiar to a fibre-reinforced composite material.

Investigation of erosive wear behaviors of AA6082-T6 aluminum alloy

AA6082-T6 aluminum alloys are widely used in various applications in automotive and aircraft industries. They offer an attractive combination of surface properties, strength and corrosion resistance. The structural components manufactured by AA6082-T6 aluminum alloys can be exposed to impingement of solid particles throughout their service life. In this study, erosive wear behaviors of AA6082-T6 aluminum alloy were investigated. For the evaluation of erosive wear induced by solid particle impacts, a detailed study was conducted on AA6082-T6 aluminum alloy by using aluminum oxide (Al2O3) erodent particles. Two different particles were used in solid particle erosion tests, which are 60 mesh (212–300 µm) and 120 mesh (90–125 µm), respectively. Also, the aluminum alloy samples were tested under two different air pressures (1.5 bar and 3 bar). The erosive wear tests were carried out according to ASTM G76 standard at six various impact angles (15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, 90°). The surface roughness and morphology of worn samples were analyzed by using a non-contact laser profilometer. It was found that erodent particle size affected the surface erosion damage, erosion rate, crater morphology and roughness. The eroded surfaces of specimens were analyzed by SEM. The surfaces of specimens were also investigated by using EDS in SEM studies.