Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 2 of 2
Full-Text Articles in Engineering
Stitch Fiber Comparison For Improvement Of Interlaminar Fracture Toughness In Stitched Composites, Kwek Tan, N. Watanabe, Y. Iwahori
Stitch Fiber Comparison For Improvement Of Interlaminar Fracture Toughness In Stitched Composites, Kwek Tan, N. Watanabe, Y. Iwahori
Dr. Kwek-Tze Tan
In this study, strain energy release rates are measured and compared for laminated composites reinforced by through-thickness stitching using different stitch fiber materials — Carbon, Kevlar, and Vectran. Strain energy release rates are evaluated experimentally using the DCB test and validated computationally using FEA. The FE model of the stitched composite incorporates a novel four-step stitch fracture process, namely: interfacial debonding, slack absorption, fiber breakage, and pull-out friction. The FE predictions of GIC show good agreement with the experimental results. It is revealed that the relationship between G IC and stitch density, or stitch thread volume fraction for all …
Interlaminar Fracture Toughness Of Vectran-Stitched Composites - Experimental And Computational Analysis, Kwek Tan, N. Watanabe, M. Sano, Y. Iwahori
Interlaminar Fracture Toughness Of Vectran-Stitched Composites - Experimental And Computational Analysis, Kwek Tan, N. Watanabe, M. Sano, Y. Iwahori
Dr. Kwek-Tze Tan
In this article, mode I interlaminar fracture toughness (GIC) of Vectran-stitched laminated composite is determined experimentally and computa- tionally. Critical strain energy release rates are measured by performing double can- tilever beam test on composites stitched with Vectran as stitch fiber, and are found to increase with increasing stitch thread thickness and stitch density. It is also revealed that the relationship between GIC and stitch density or stitch thread volume fraction appears to be linear. Interlaminar tension test is conducted to identify important fracture behavior of a single Vectran stitch fiber thread. The finite-element (FE) model of the stitched composite …