Engineering Science and Materials Commons^™

Characterization Of Fatigue Damage In A Metal Matrix Composite (Scs-6/ Ti-15-3) At Elevated Temperature, Brian P. Sanders

Theses and Dissertations

The fatigue characteristics of a unidirectional titanium based metal matrix composite (MMC) were investigated at elevated temperature (427°C). A hybrid strain controlled loading mode was used to subject the 0° and 90° laminas to fatigue. Along with the fatigue tests, microscopy and analytical modeling ware also conducted. This combination of activities led to defining the initiation and progression of damage and deformation in the MMC. Hen loading was parallel to the fiber on, the fatigue behavior was initially dominated by creep deformation of the matrix. Then, depending on the maximum strain, specimen failure was the result either fiber fractures or …

An Investigation Of Graphite Peek Composite Under Compression With A Centrally Located Circular Discontinuity, Benjamin Wham Ii

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis was to determine (both experimentally and analytically) the initiation and progression of failure, stress-strain response, and the failure loads of Graphite/Polyetheretherketone (Gr/PEEK) laminates, incorporating a centrally located circular discontinuity, loading in axial compression at room temperature. The laminates studied were (0°)₁₆,(90°)₁₆, (0°/90°)_4S, (± 45°)_4S, and (0°/±45°/90°)_2S. The specimens were loaded within a Boeing Open Hole Compression Fixture. The micromechanical failure modes were identified using a Scanning Electron Microscope. The analytical progression of failure was predicted using a nonlinear finite element code developed by Dr. R.S. …

Computational And Experimental Investigation Into Fracture Of Brittle Fiber - Brittle Matrix Composite Systems, James P. Solti

Theses and Dissertations

Experimental and computational analyses provided an improved understanding of quasi-static fracture in model composite systems. Constant displacement compression tests using borosilicate glass double cleavage drilled compression test templates provided qualitative assessments of localized toughening for crack growth near cylindrical inclusions. Large crack-tip stress fields induced interfacial slip and separation prior to arrival of the main crack. Debonding and the proliferation of secondary matrix cracks characterized the role of bridging fibers along weak interfaces. Strong residual normal compressive interfacial stresses diminished the influence of crack-tip stresses; however, slip was still observed. VHS tape and computer enhanced photos record a history of …

Investigation Of Fatigue Behavior In Notched Cross-Ply Titanium Metal Matrix Composite At Elevated Temperature, Robert P. Baker

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research was to investigate the initiation and progression of damage which develops in notched (0/90)_2S SCS-6/Ti-15-3 at elevated temperature. Testing consisted of a monotonic tensile test at 427°C followed by fatigue testing performed under load control with a stress ratio of 0.1 at a frequency of 10 Hz. A crack was defined to have initiated when it had attained a length greater than or equal to 0.124 mm. Crack initiation and progression was monitored by strain and modulus observations and visual inspection via telemicroscope. The cracks were recorded with edge and face replicas. Metallographic and …

Behavior Of A Titanium Matrix Composite Under Quasi-Static Tensile And Compressive Loading, Keith L. Bearden

Theses and Dissertations

Quasi-Static tensile and compressive testing was performed on a unidirectional titanium matrix composite. The specific material was SCS-9/β 21S. The initial tensile and compressive modulus for both laminates was the same. The ninety degree laminate had a tensile and compressive modulus of 115.89 GPa. The zero degree laminate had a tensile and compressive modulus of 197.51 GPa. The ninety degree laminate exhibited a three stage stress/strain response in tension. The first stage is completely linearly elastic, however, partial debonding of the fiber from the matrix was observed. This partial debased did not effect the stress/strain response. The second stage is …

Behavior Of A Centrally Notched Cross-Ply And Unidirectional Ceramic Matrix Composite In Tension-Compression Fatigue, William A. Weidenaar

Theses and Dissertations

Centrally notched (hole), cross-ply, ((0/90)₂)_s, and unidirectional, (0)₈ laminates of Silicon Carbide fiber-reinforced Aluminosilicate glass, SiC/1723, were fatigue tested under tension-compression loading with a load ratio of -1. Damage accumulated continuously for both lay- ups, leading to eventual failure and a reduced fatigue life. Critical damage in the cross-ply consisted of longitudinal cracks in the 90° plies growing and combining with transverse cracks to effectively eliminate the 90° plies' load carrying capability and allowing the specimen to buckle. Critical damage in the unidirectional lay-up consisted of longitudinal cracks which initiated at the shear stress concentration …

Fatigue Behavior Of A Cross-Ply Ceramic Matrix Composite Under Tension-Tension And Tension-Compression Loading, Frank A. Opalski

Theses and Dissertations

A study was conducted which investigated the behavior of a cross-ply [0/90]_2S Nicalon/Calcium-Aluminosilicate (Nicalon/CAS) ceramic matrix composite at room temperature under tension-compression fatigue loading. Material behavior and damage was recorded by stress-strain curves, elastic modulus, hysteretic energy density, and acetate replication techniques. Tension-tension fatigue tests at a load ratio R of 0.1 (R = σ_min/σ_max) were completed which determined that 140 MPa was the maximum stress allowable in which cycle runout (1,000,000 cycles) would occur. Above this value, transverse crack density increased with respect to cycles and failure ultimately occurred. Tension-compression tests were then performed …

Open And Filled Hole Static Tensile Strength Characterization Of Metal Matrix Composite Scs-9/Β21s, Jacob T. Roush

Theses and Dissertations

SCS-9/β21s has a reduced gauge thickness, in comparison with other metal matrix composites, due to a smaller diameter fiber. This reduced gauge thickness makes it an attractive candidate for the skin of hypersonic vehicles. Tensile testing of (0/90)_2s and (O/±45/90)_s laminates was performed at room temperature, 482°C, and 650°C. Both notched and unnotched specimens were tested. Notched specimens, open and filled hole, had a width-to-diameter ratio of six. Materials 7075-T6 and Mar-m-246 were used as pins in the filled hole tensile testing. Analytical work was completed to predict material properties, elastic and plastic stress concentration factors, residual stresses, …

Transfer Function Models And Control Of A Flexible Structure Using Piezoelectric Laminates, Joseph A. Colvin

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The development of piezoelectric polymer films has generated a great deal of excitement in the structural controls community because they are lightweight, durable, distributed in nature and have broad band frequency characteristics. The flurry of research inspired by piezoelectric films has primarily been dedicated to using them as distributed sensors, and to a lesser extent, as distributed actuators.

Active damping of structural vibrations using piezoelectric polymer films as sensors and actuators has primarily been directed toward taking advantage of their distributed nature and employing various types of distributed control theory. This approach does not easily yield insight into the dynamics …

Crack Growth Rate Modeling Of A Titanium-Aluminide Alloy Under Thermal-Mechanical Cycling, John J. Pernot

Theses and Dissertations

In this study, a model is developed to predict crack growth rates in a titanium-aluminide alloy under thermal-mechanical fatigue (TMF). This TMF crack growth rate prediction model, which requires only isothermal data to define its parameters, is distinguished from earlier models in two ways. First, it accounts for mechanical-fatigue and environmental crack growth rate contributions while it also considers a retardation mechanism thought to be caused by creep blunting of the crack tip. This is the first study to account for such a retardation mechanism during TMF. The second uniqueness of the model is that its general form can account …

Failure Characterization Of A Fiber Reinforced Ceramic Matrix Composite With Circular Holes, Daniel E. Bullock

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the performance of a fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composite with circular holes. The specific objectives were to (1) determine the relationship between tensile failure stress and the ratio of hole diameter to specimen width, and (2) to examine the initiation and progression of damage. The ceramic matrix composite used was SiC/ 1723, composed of continuous silicon titanium carbide fibers in an aluminosilicate glass ceramic matrix. Uniaxial tensile tests were performed at room temperature on two different layups; unidirectional [0]₈, and [0/90]_2s symmetric. Each layup was tested at three diameter-to-width …

Room Temperature Wear Characteristics Of Al2O3-Particle-Reinforced Aluminum Alloy Composite, A. R. Nesarikar, Surendra N. Tewari, E. E. Graham

Chemical & Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Room temperature dry wear and friction properties of a metal matrix composite sliding against cast iron have been studied in a pin-on-plate reciprocating wear tester. The composite consists of Al₂O₃ particles in an aluminum alloy matrix. Wear is caused by abrasion, interfacial adhesion and ploughing of the softer surface with the asperities of the harder surface and the debris. With increasing load the friction coefficient and wear initially increase and then ecrease. The decreases in wear and friction are caused by increased hardness resulting from re-embedding of the fractured Al₂O₃ particles near the surface …

Investigation Of Damage Mechanisms In A Cross-Ply Metal Matrix Composite Under Thermo-Mechanical Loading, Joel J. Schubbe

Theses and Dissertations

Metal matrix composites (MMCs) are rapidly becoming strong candidates for high temperature and high stiffness structural applications such as the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF). This study systematically investigated the failure modes and associated damage in a cross-ply, [0/90]_2s SCS6/Ti-15-3 metal matrix composite under in-phase and out-of-phase thermomechanic fatigue. Initiation and progression of fatigue damage were recorded and correlated to changes in Young's Modulus of the composite material. Experimental results show an internal stabilization of reaction zone size but degradation and separation from constituent materials under extended cyclic thermal loading. Critical to damage were transverse cracks initiating in the 90° …

Finite Element Analysis Of Structures With Constrained Viscoelastic Layer Damping, Yung Chen

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

It has been demonstrated that constrained viscoelastic layer damping treatments provide an effective means of passive control for structural vibration. These treatments dissipate vibrational energy by inducing shear strain in a thin layer of viscoelastic material. Our interest is in adding passive damping to a structure as an augmentation to active control. For such applications it is desirable to achieve high damping performance in a given frequency range with a minimum of added weight. Most damping treatments employ spatially continuous constraining layers over the entire viscoelastic layer. Plunkett and Lee have shown that the effectiveness of the damping treatment can …

A Systematic Procedure For The Analysis And Design Of Deployable Space Structures, Praveen Kumar

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

An integrated graph theory and a symmetry-based approach have been developed for the type synthesis of deployable truss structures. Using this systematic approach, a bay of a deployable structure may be looked upon as being built around an axis or a plane of symmetry, including anti-symmetry. By providing a fictitious joint along this axis, the problem of structural design and analysis can be reduced to the study of one plane or face of the given structure. Each face is considered to be an assemblage of structural links connected by joints which form a closed kinematic chain. The conventional graph representation …

Stability Design Of A Slender Column With Curved Longitudinal Stiffeners, Mark S. Lake

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This thesis presents the results of a stability design study of a slender column with curved longitudinal stiffeners for large space structure applications. The stiffened column concept is attractive because it allows the buckling load of a slender column to be increased at a fairly low cost in increased mass, and at no change in the column packaged size. Linear stability analyses are performed using a "linked-plate" representation of the stiffeners to determine stiffener local buckling stresses. Results from a set of parametric analyses are used to determine an approximate explicit expression for stiffener local buckling in terms of its …

Determinations Of Molecular Weight And Molecular Weight Distribution Of High Polymers By The Rheological Properties, Joan Y. Z. Huang

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Several methods are reviewed by which the molecular weight (MW) and molecular weight distribution (MWD) of polymeric material were determined from the rheological properties. A poly (arylene ether) polymer with six different molecular weights was used in this investigation. Experimentally measured MW and MWD were conducted by GPC/LALLS (Gel Permeation Chromatography/Low Angle Laser Light Scattering), and the rheological properties of the melts were measured by a Rheometric System Four rheometer. It was found that qualitative information of the MW and MWD of these polymers could be derived from the viscoelastic properties, with the methods proposed by Zeichner and Pate1, and …

Structural Self-Shadowing And Its Effects On The Thermal-Structural Behavior Of Orbiting Trusses, Jack Mahaney

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The determination of structural shadowing is described. The computation of environmental heat loads for slender structural members in earth orbit is described, and two methods for finite element thermal analysis are described . The effects of self-shadowing on the thermal structural behavior of single truss members and two different trusses are presented. In each case the shadowing produces a noticeable effect on the temperature distributions on truss members, and on the deformations of the trusses.

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 …

The Use Of Complex Versus Normal Modes In Structural Model Improvement, Chih Lin

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

In the past, normal modes approximation to complex modes was employed by most researchers or users in the process of identification or modification of structural systems. This is true, of course for simple structures with no or proportional damping. For complex structures with nonproportional damping, even level of which is small, it will be shown that applying this approximation is inadequate. Use of complex modes instead of approximated normal modes is justified.

An algorithm is presented that computes a set of normal modes from the corresponding measured complex modes. The computed normal modes are then used in the Berman's technique …

The Significance Of Peel Stresses In Cyclic Debonding, Richard A. Everett Jr.

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

One of the possible failure modes in adhesively bonded joints is cyclic debonding -- progressive separation of the adherends by cyclic failure of the adhesive bond. In this study cyclic debonding in an adhesively bonded crack-lap shear specimen has been investigated by means of a linear elastic finite-element analysis and a series of constant­ amplitude axial fatigue tests. The primary purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that cyclic debonding is due largely to tensile peel stresses in the adhesive.

The results of this study have indicated that not all of the tensile peel stresses in the adhesive …

Studies Of Fracture And Deformed Surfaces Of High Strength Aluminum Alloys By X-Ray Diffraction, Tamma K. Kumar

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

X-ray observations of fatigue fracture and deformed surfaces of 7075-T6 aluminum were conducted in this study. The (111) and (222) diffraction peaks were obtained from the fractured and deformed surfaces. It was observed that in comparison with the base metal, the fracture exhibited line broadening similar to that due to cold working. The broadening is indicative of plastic deformation in the vicinity of the advancing crack tip during the fracture process. Also the different regions of fracture exhibited varying degrees of line broadening. With respect to the fatigue crack, the slow crack growth region showed a greater broadening, and, hence, …

Assessment Of Feasibility Of Proposed Bolted Connections For Tubular Structures, John Henry Tausch

Dissertations and Theses

The search for new and additional sources of energy -- from sun, wind, waves, and ocean currents -- is necessitating the development of structures in the open environment of the oceans as well as on land. The advantages of round or tubular members for use in such structures are shown; and to avoid the uncertainties of welded joints, two bolted connections are proposed and their feasibility explored.

Comparative Study Of Lightweight And Normal Weight Concrete In Flexure, Mohammad Zareh

Dissertations and Theses

This investigation represents a comparative study of the flexural behavior of lightweight and normal weight concrete. Both theoretical and experimental moment-curvature characteristics of the tested specimens were used to study the flexural behavior.

A generalized computer program to determine the moment-curvature relationships of a singly reinforced rectangular concrete beam was developed.

For this limited study it was observed that lightweight concrete beams when compared to normal concrete beams achieve comparable moment capacity (about 92% of normal weight concrete) but exhibit higher deflections (about 40% more than normal weight concrete).

Concrete In Dairies, D Roger Buchanan

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

PRIME requirements for exposed concrete surfaces in dairies are that they should be easily cleansed and should not deteriorate in contact with milk and milk products.

In milking stalls, animal races and on loading platforms hardwearing surfaces which offer good foothold are also necessary.