Engineering Commons^™

Mechanics Of Pure Bending And Eccentric Buckling In High-Strain Composite Structures, Jimesh D. Bhagatji, Oleksandr G. Kravchenko, Sharanabasaweshwara Asundi

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

To maximize the capabilities of nano- and micro-class satellites, which are limited by their size, weight, and power, advancements in deployable mechanisms with a high deployable surface area to packaging volume ratio are necessary. Without progress in understanding the mechanics of high-strain materials and structures, the development of compact deployable mechanisms for this class of satellites would be difficult. This paper presents fabrication, experimental testing, and progressive failure modeling to study the deformation of an ultra-thin composite beam. The research study examines the deformation modes of a post-deployed boom under repetitive pure bending loads using a four-point bending setup and …

Microscale Transverse Compression Modeling: A Comparative Study Of The Analytical Mac/Gmc Methods To Experimental Results, Emily Zeitunian

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Composite materials require a multi-scale approach to fully understand its behavior. At the micro level, material behavior analysis is conducted most often using numerical or analytical approaches. These models, however, require validation from experimental data to ensure material predictions are accurate. This study compares a semi-analytical micromechanical analysis tool, MAC/GMC, to experimental results of in-situ microscale transverse compression testing conducted at AFRL facilities. Effective properties, stress-strain curves, stress and strain fields, and damage predictions are compared with experimental outputs. Both generalized method of cells (GMC) and high-fidelity generalized method of cells (HFGMC) theories implemented within MAC/GMC show results that agree …

Experimental And Computational Analysis Of Progressive Failure In Bolted Hybrid Composite Joints, John S. Brewer

Theses and Dissertations

Composite materials are strong, lightweight, and stiff making them desirable in aerospace applications. However, a practical issue arises with composites in that they behave unpredictably in bolted joints, where damage and cracks are often initiated. This research investigated a solution to correcting the problem with composite bolted joints. A novel hybrid composite material was developed, where thin stainless steel foils were placed between and in place of preimpregnated composite plies during the cure cycle to reinforce stress concentrations in bolted joints. This novel composite was compared to control samples experimentally in quasi-static monotonic loading in double shear configuration in 9-ply …

Predicting The Mechanical Properties Of Nanocomposites Reinforced With 1-D, 2-D And 3-D Nanomaterials, Scott Edward Muller

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Materials with features at the nanoscale can provide unique mechanical properties and increased functionality when included as part of a nanocomposite. This dissertation utilizes computational methods at multiple scales, including molecular dynamics (MD) and density functional theory (DFT), and the coupled atomistic and discrete dislocation multiscale method (CADD), to predict the mechanical properties of nanocomposites possessing nanomaterials that are either 1-D (carbyne chains), 2-D (graphene sheets), or 3-D (Al/amorphous-Si core-shell nanorod).

The MD method is used to model Ni-graphene nanocomposites. The strength of a Ni-graphene nanocomposite is found to improve by increasing the gap between the graphene sheet and a …

Simulating Dynamic Failure Of Polymer-Bonded Explosives Under Periodic Excitation, Rachel Kohler, Camilo Duarte Cordon, Marisol Koslowski

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Accidental mishandling of explosive materials leads to thousands of injuries in the US every year. Understanding the mechanisms behind the detonation process is crucial to prevent such accidents. In polymer-bonded explosives (PBX), high-frequency mechanical excitation generates thermal energy and can lead to an increase in temperature and vapor pressure, and potentially the initiation of the detonation process. However, the mechanisms behind this energy release, such as the effects of dynamic fracture and friction, are not well understood. Experimental data is difficult to collect due to the different time scales of reactions and vibrations, so research is aided by running simulations …

A Novel Method Characterizing The Impact Response Of Functionally Graded Plates, Reid A. Larson

Theses and Dissertations

Functionally graded material (FGM) plates are advanced composites with properties that vary continuously through the thickness of the plate. Metal-ceramic FGM plates have been proposed for use in thermal protection systems where a metal-rich interior surface of the plate gradually transitions to a ceramic-rich exterior surface of the plate. The ability of FGMs to resist impact loads must be demonstrated before using them in high-temperature environments in service. This dissertation presents a novel technique by which the impact response of FGM plates is characterized for low-velocity, low- to medium-energy impact loads. An experiment was designed where strain histories in FGM …

Reduction Of Thermal Residual Strains In Adhesively Bonded Composite Repairs, Heather R. Crooks

Theses and Dissertations

Many military and commercial aircraft are being called upon to fly well beyond their original intended service lives. This has forced the United States Air Force (USAF) to increasingly rely on structural repairs to address fatigue induced damage and to extend aircraft useful life. The focus of this research is the use of a high-strength composite patch technique to repair a fatigue crack on an aluminum aircraft structure. This study investigates the thermal residual strains that occur as a direct result of the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) mismatch between the repair patch and the underlying cracked metallic structure to …

Mechanics Of A Functionally-Graded Titanium Matrix Composite, G. Brandt Miller

Theses and Dissertations

Functionally-graded Titanium Matrix Composites, (F/G TMCs) combine the ideal properties of titanium matrix composites with the more practical machining qualities of monolithic (unreinforced) alloy. This material shows great promise in application to aerospace structural components - even in parts whose design requirements have defied the use of composite materials in the past. Successful implementation of such a material would lead to enhanced aircraft performance. However, the basic properties of a functionally-graded titanium matrix composite need to be investigated. The composite/alloy transition region, or joint area, may be less strong than its constituents and therefore determine the overall performance of the …

Nonlinear Geometric And Material Behavior Of Composite Shells With Large Strains, Scott A. Schimmels

Theses and Dissertations

A two-dimensional, geometrically and materially nonlinear shell theory applicable to arbitrary geometries described by orthogonal curvilinear coordinates and encompassing large displacements, moderate rotations for large strain situations has been developed. Additionally, the theory includes Jacobian transformation matrices, based upon displacement parameters, for the Cauchy - 2nd Piola-Kirchhoff stress-state and the Cauchy (Almansi) - Green strain-state transformations, and a layered material approach is included for the elastoplastic analysis to allow for variation of plasticity through-the-thickness. Doubly curved 20, 28, and 36 degree-of-freedom finite elements are defined based on specialization of the theory to spherical coordinates. The computer program includes algorithms for …

Investigation Into The Behavior Of Geometrically Nonlinear Composite Arches, John C. Bailey

Theses and Dissertations

This research modifies the existing finite element formulation of a potential energy based large deformation and moderate rotation theory. Hermitian shape functions replace the existing linear bending angle interpolations. Negligible differences between the two formulations indicate the underlying kinematics limit the accuracy, not the finite element interpolations. Using the new program, numerous nonlinear arch geometries are modeled to investigate the effects of arc length and thickness variations. Local and global snapping phenomena are captured as well as through the thickness shear driven nonlinearities.

Influence Of Embedded Optical Fibers On Compressive Strength Of Advanced Composites, Stefan B. Dosedel

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the effects of embedding optical fibers into advanced composite materials. This combination was meant to simulate 'smart structures' that have been shown to sense several different variables in the composite including strain, temperature, and damage. A laminate orientation taken from an existing aircraft structure was used to fabricate sixteen groups of specimens which were subjected to compression testing in an IITRI fixture to determine the ultimate compressive strength and modulus of elasticity. Ten of these groups were fabricated with optical fibers while the other six were control groups and contained no optical fibers. This study showed that …

An Experimental And Analytical Investigation Of The Iosipescu Shear Test For Composite Materials, Barry Stuart Spigel

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Mechanical properties of composite materials under shear loading are difficult to determine. The Iosipescu Shear test, originally proposed for metals, has in recent years been applied to composites. It has the advantages of small specimen size, simple loading and a reasonably uniform shear stress in the test section.

The purpose of this work is to study the validity of the Iosipescu test method for measuring the shear modulus and shear strength of composites. Finite element analyses indicate that optimum specimen geometry and load locations depend upon the degree of orthotropy of the composite. Test results for a quasi-isotropic graphite/epoxy laminate …