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Full-Text Articles in Mechanical Engineering
Design Of Natural Composite I-Beam For Sampe 2019, Brian Harkness
Design Of Natural Composite I-Beam For Sampe 2019, Brian Harkness
Honors Theses
In recent years, the demand for high performance, lightweight, fiber-reinforced composites have grown substantially. Fiberglass and carbon fiber have exemplary material properties that meet the demand and have set the industry standard for performance materials. Although these materials meet their design function, they suffer from high environmental impacts throughout their life cycle and are not cost effective to produce. Flax fiber composites have comparable properties to fiberglass but can be produced more efficiently and production requires much less energy consumption. Flax is a readily available, renewable material that will easily biodegrade once it is the end of its useful life …
16th Annual Sampe Student Bridge Contest: Design Of A Wood Core Flax Fiber-Reinforced Composite I-Beam, Robert J. Wagner
16th Annual Sampe Student Bridge Contest: Design Of A Wood Core Flax Fiber-Reinforced Composite I-Beam, Robert J. Wagner
Honors Theses
The goal of this project was to demonstrate the applicability of natural composites in structural applications for objects with shorter intended life spans such as sports equipment. This was done by competing in the 16th Annual SAMPE Student Bridge Contest with a natural fiber, natural core composite I-beam in Long Beach, California on May 8th, 2013. The beam was to withstand 3,000 lbs under three-point-bending while maintaining a low weight. In order to compete, natural reinforcement fibers, natural core materials and a bonding matrix had to be identified; a beam within allowable contest dimensions had to be designed; and a …