VCFEM/X-VCFEM for Debonding and Matrix Cracking in Composites

Keyword(s):  
Author(s):  
J Downing ◽  
A Hook

Two steel substrate test panels were developed to represent common plate thicknesses found on naval vessels and scanned using the Babcock developed ultrasonic technique. One sample comprised of a series of slotted surface breaking flaws of varying widths and through thicknesses to represent fracturing/cracking. The inspection method detected simulated cracking to a depth of 2mm and 0.5mm in width. The second sample included numerous loss of wall thickness areas of varying diameters and through thicknesses, with the smallest detectable loss of wall thickness being 0.1mm at a 15mm diameter. After proving confidence in detection, there was a need to characterise flaws to provide support and ascertain a repair action. Samples were produced that were subjected to either impact or heat exposure to induce realistic representative damage. The practical ultrasonic method was successfully used to independently characterise between the samples, with induced de-laminations caused by blisters, and multi layered matrix cracking caused by varying levels of projectile impacts, due to their unique morphology.


2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 189-199
Author(s):  
Longbiao Li

AbstractIn this paper, the temperature-dependent matrix multicracking evolution of carbon-fiber-reinforced silicon carbide ceramic-matrix composites (C/SiC CMCs) is investigated. The temperature-dependent composite microstress field is obtained by combining the shear-lag model and temperature-dependent material properties and damage models. The critical matrix strain energy criterion assumes that the strain energy in the matrix has a critical value. With increasing applied stress, when the matrix strain energy is higher than the critical value, more matrix cracks and interface debonding occur to dissipate the additional energy. Based on the composite damage state, the temperature-dependent matrix strain energy and its critical value are obtained. The relationships among applied stress, matrix cracking state, interface damage state, and environmental temperature are established. The effects of interfacial properties, material properties, and environmental temperature on temperature-dependent matrix multiple fracture evolution of C/SiC composites are analyzed. The experimental evolution of matrix multiple fracture and fraction of the interface debonding of C/SiC composites at elevated temperatures are predicted. When the interface shear stress increases, the debonding resistance at the interface increases, leading to the decrease of the debonding fraction at the interface, and the stress transfer capacity between the fiber and the matrix increases, leading to the higher first matrix cracking stress, saturation matrix cracking stress, and saturation matrix cracking density.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 3466
Author(s):  
Lulu Liu ◽  
Shikai Yin ◽  
Gang Luo ◽  
Zhenhua Zhao ◽  
Wei Chen

Two-dimensional (2D) triaxial braided composites with braiding angle (± 60°/0°) have been used as aero-engine containing casing material. In the current paper, three types of projectile with the same mass and equivalent diameter, including cylinder gelatin projectile, carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP), and titanium alloy blade-like projectile, were employed to impact on triaxial braided composites panels with thickness of 4.3 mm at room temperature (20 °C) to figure out the influences of projectile materials on the damage pattern and energy absorption behavior. Furthermore, the influences of environmental temperature were also discussed considering the aviation service condition by conducting ballistic impact tests using CFRP projectile at cryogenic temperature (−50 °C) and high temperature (150 °C). The triaxial braided target panel were pre-heated or cooled in a low-temperature chamber before mounted. It is found that soft gelatin project mainly causes global deformation of the target and therefore absorb much more energy. The triaxial braided composite absorb 77.59% more energy when impacted with CFRP projectile than that with titanium alloy projectile, which mainly results in shear fracture. The environmental temperature has influences on the damage pattern and energy absorption of triaxial braided composites. The cryogenic temperature deteriorates the impact resistance of the triaxial braided composite material with matrix cracking damage pattern, while high temperature condition improves its impact resistance with shearing fracture damage pattern.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 2154
Author(s):  
Amir Hussain Idrisi ◽  
Abdel-Hamid I. Mourad ◽  
Muhammad M. Sherif

This paper presents a long-term experimental investigation of E-glass/epoxy composites’ durability exposed to seawater at different temperatures. The thermoset composite samples were exposed to 23 °C, 45 °C and 65 °C seawater for a prolonged exposure time of 11 years. The mechanical performance as a function of exposure time was evaluated and a strength-based technique was used to assess the durability of the composites. The experimental results revealed that the tensile strength of E-glass/epoxy composite was reduced by 8.2%, 29.7%, and 54.4% after immersion in seawater for 11 years at 23 °C, 45 °C, and 65 °C, respectively. The prolonged immersion in seawater resulted in the plasticization and swelling in the composite. This accelerated the rate of debonding between the fibers and matrix. The failure analysis was conducted to investigate the failure mode of the samples. SEM micrographs illustrated a correlation between the fiber/matrix debonding, potholing, fiber pull-out, river line marks and matrix cracking with deterioration in the tensile characteristics of the thermoset composite.


2021 ◽  
pp. 096739112098570
Author(s):  
Mohammad Azadi ◽  
Mohsen Alizadeh ◽  
Seyed Mohammad Jafari ◽  
Amin Farrokhabadi

In the present article, acoustic emission signals were utilized to predict the damage in polymer matrix composites, reinforced by carbon fibers, in the low-cycle fatigue regime. Displacement-controlled fatigue tests were performed on open-hole samples, under different conditions, at various displacement amplitudes of 5.5, 6.0, 6.5 and 7.0 mm and also under various displacement rates of 25, 50, 100 and 200 mm/min. After acquiring acoustic emission signals during cycles, two characteristic parameters were used, including the energy and the cumulative energy. Obtained results implied that the energy parameter of acoustic emission signals could be used only for the macroscopic damage, occurring at more than 65% of normalized fatigue cycles under different test conditions. However, the cumulative energy could properly predict both microscopic and macroscopic defects, at least two failure types, including matrix cracking at first cycles and the fiber breakage at last cycles. Besides, scanning electron microscopy images proved initially such claims under all loading conditions.


1993 ◽  
Vol 115 (3) ◽  
pp. 314-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Spearing ◽  
F. W. Zok

A computer simulation of multiple cracking in fiber-reinforced brittle matrix composites has been conducted, with emphasis on the role of the matrix flaw distribution. The simulations incorporate the effect of bridging fibers on the stress required for cracking. Both short and long (steady-state) flaws are considered. Furthermore, the effects of crack interactions (through the overlap of interface slip lengths) are incorporated. The influence of the crack distribution on the tensile response of such composites is also examined.


2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 262-278
Author(s):  
A. Sellitto ◽  
R. Borrelli ◽  
F. Caputo ◽  
A. Riccio ◽  
F. Scaramuzzino

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate on the behaviour of a delaminated stiffened panel; the delamination growth is simulated via fracture elements implemented in B2000++® code based on the Modified Virtual Crack Closure Technique (MVCCT), matrix cracking and fibre failure have been also taken into account. Design/methodology/approach – In order to correctly apply the MVCCT on the delamination front a very fine three-dimensional (3D) mesh is required very close to the delaminated area, while a 2D-shell model has been employed for the areas of minor interest. In order to couple the shell domain to the solid one, shell-to-solid coupling elements based on kinematic constraints have been used. Findings – Results obtained with the global/local approach are in good correlation with those obtained with experimental results. Originality/value – The global/local approach based on kinematic coupling elements in conjunction with fracture elements allows to investigate and predict the behaviour of a stiffened delaminated composite panel in an efficient and effective way.


2013 ◽  
Vol 821-822 ◽  
pp. 1479-1483
Author(s):  
Bi Ling Yang ◽  
Sen Liu ◽  
Xiao Xia He ◽  
Shao Qiong Zheng

Thermoplastic self-reinforced polyethylene (PE/PE) composites were tested under quasi-static tensile load and the failure processes weremonitored by Acoustic Emission (AE) technique. The AE signals were collected and clustered by Unsupervised Pattern Recognition (UPR) scheme. The initiation and progression of the damage mechanisms in the composites can then be reviewed by the cumulative AE hits of each cluster versus strain curves. But the labeling of each cluster is crucial to the failure analysis. The paper focuses on this correlating between the obtained clusters and their specific damage modes. This was carried out by waveform visualization and Fast Fourier Transform analysis. Pure resin and fiber bundles were tested to assist in the labeling of signal classes in the composites (90°, 0° and [±45°] specimens). Typical waveforms of matrix cracking, fiber-matrix debonding, fiber fracture and fiber pullout were indentified respectively. The evolution process of various damage mechanisms in the composites revealed that the correlating method was effective. An objective and repeatable analytical procedure is established for the investigation of progressive failure mechanisms in the thermoplastic composites.


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