Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 4 of 4

Full-Text Articles in Civil and Environmental Engineering

Experimental And Fem Study Of Thermal Cycling Induced Microcracking In Carbon/Epoxy Triaxial Braided Composites, Chao Zhang, Wieslaw Binienda, Gregory Morscher, Richard Martin, Lee Kohlman Sep 2015

Experimental And Fem Study Of Thermal Cycling Induced Microcracking In Carbon/Epoxy Triaxial Braided Composites, Chao Zhang, Wieslaw Binienda, Gregory Morscher, Richard Martin, Lee Kohlman

Wieslaw K. Binienda

The microcrack distribution and mass change in T700s/PR520 and T700s/3502 carbon/epoxy braided composites exposed to thermal cycling was evaluated experimentally. Acoustic emission was utilized to record the crack initiation and propagation under cyclic thermal loading between −55 °C and 120 °C. Transverse microcrack morphology was investigated using X-ray computed tomography. The differing performance of two kinds of composites was discovered and analyzed. Based on the observations of microcrack formation, a meso-mechanical finite element model was developed to obtain the resultant mechanical properties. The simulation results exhibited a decrease in strength and stiffness with increasing crack density. Strength and stiffness reduction …


Numerical Analysis Of Free-Edge Effect On Size-Influenced Mechanical Properties Of Single-Layer Triaxially Braided Composites, Chao Zhang, Wieslaw Binienda Sep 2015

Numerical Analysis Of Free-Edge Effect On Size-Influenced Mechanical Properties Of Single-Layer Triaxially Braided Composites, Chao Zhang, Wieslaw Binienda

Wieslaw K. Binienda

The mechanical properties of triaxially braided composites under transverse loads are found to be size-dependent, due to the presence of free-edge effect. Numerical studies of the mechanical behaviors of straight-sided coupon specimens and an infinitely large plate under both axial and transverse tension loads were conducted using a meso-scale finite element model. The numerical model correlates well with experimental results, successfully capturing the free-edge warping phenomena under transverse tension. Free-edge effect is observed as out-of-plane warping, and it can be correlated to the premature damage initiation in the affected area. The numerical results characterize the impact of free-edge effects on …


Progressive Damage Simulation Of Triaxially Braided Composite Using A 3d Meso-Scale Finite Element Model, Chao Zhang, Ning Li, Wenzhi Wang, Wieslaw Binienda, Hongbing Fang Sep 2015

Progressive Damage Simulation Of Triaxially Braided Composite Using A 3d Meso-Scale Finite Element Model, Chao Zhang, Ning Li, Wenzhi Wang, Wieslaw Binienda, Hongbing Fang

Wieslaw K. Binienda

This article proposes a fully three-dimensional finite element model, developed at the meso-scale level, to predict the progressive damage behavior of a single-layer triaxially braided composite subjected to tensile loading conditions. An anisotropic damage model is established by Murakami–Ohno damage theory to predict damage initiation and progression in the fiber tows. A traction–separation law has been applied to predict theoretically the progressive damage of fiber tow interfaces. The proposed model correlates well with experiment on both global stress–strain responses and local strain distributions. According to the damage contours at different global strain levels, the damage development of fiber tows and …


Free-Edge Effect On The Effective Stiffness Of Single-Layer Triaxially Braided Composite, Chao Zhang, Wieslaw Binienda, Robert Goldberg Sep 2015

Free-Edge Effect On The Effective Stiffness Of Single-Layer Triaxially Braided Composite, Chao Zhang, Wieslaw Binienda, Robert Goldberg

Wieslaw K. Binienda

Free-edge effect is known to play an important role in the failure of triaxially braided composites, especially under transverse tension loading conditions. However, there is little understanding available regarding the free-edge effect on the elastic property of the material. The emphasis of the present study is to examine the impact of the free-edge effect on the effective elastic response of a single-layer triaxially braided composite. Transverse tension straight-sided coupon specimens with various widths are tested and analyzed. The experimental results demonstrate an obvious increase in the tangent modulus and failure strength as the specimen width increases. The surface out-of-plane displacement …