scholarly journals Optimal Design of a Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Composite Sandwich Structure for the Base Plate of Aircraft Pallets In Order to Reduce Weight

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 834
Author(s):  
Alaa Al-Fatlawi ◽  
Károly Jármai ◽  
György Kovács
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Fiber ◽  
Base Plate ◽  
Optimization Method ◽  
Fiber Reinforced Plastic ◽  
Composite Sandwich ◽  
Frp Composite ◽  
Reinforced Plastic ◽  
Woven Glass Fiber ◽  
Base Plates

The application of fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) composite materials instead of metals, due to the low density of FRP materials, results in weight savings in the base plates of aircraft pallets. Lower weight leads to lower fuel consumption of the aircraft and thereby less environmental damage. The study aimed to investigate replacing the currently used aluminum base plates of aircraft pallets with composite sandwich plates to reduce the weight of the pallets, thereby the weight of the unit loads transported by aircraft. The newly constructed sandwich base plate consists of an aluminum honeycomb core and FRP composite face-sheets. First, we made experimental tests and numerical calculations for the investigated FRP sandwich panel to validate the applicability of the calculation method. Next, the mechanical properties of 40 different layer-combinations of 4 different FRP face-sheet materials (phenolic woven glass fiber; epoxy woven glass fiber; epoxy woven carbon fiber; and hybrid layers) were investigated using the Digimat-HC modeling program in order to find the appropriate face-sheet construction. Face-sheets were built up in 1, 2, 4, 6 or 8 layers with sets of fiber orientations including cross-ply (0°, 90°) and/or angle-ply (±45°). The weight optimization method was elaborated considering 9 design constraints: stiffness, deflection, skin stress, core shear stress, facing stress, overall buckling, shear crimping, skin wrinkling, and intracell buckling. A case study for the base plate of an aircraft pallet was introduced to validate the optimization procedure carried out using the Matlab (Interior Point Algorithm) and Excel Solver (Generalized Reduced Gradient Nonlinear Algorithm) programs. In the case study, the weight of the optimal structure (epoxy woven carbon fiber face-sheets) was 27 kg, which provides weight savings of 66% compared to the standard aluminum pallet. The article’s main added value is the elaboration and implementation of an optimization method that results in significant weight savings and thus lower fuel consumption of aircraft.

Combining Optical Metrology and Additive Manufacturing for Efficient Manufacturing of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic Orthopedics: A Case Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 871 ◽  
pp. 275-283
Author(s):  
Josefine Jahn ◽  
Benjamin Thorenz ◽  
Markus Kafara ◽  
Rolf Steinhilper
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Fiber ◽  
Optical Metrology ◽  
Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic ◽  
Fiber Reinforced ◽  
Fiber Reinforced Plastic ◽  
Final Assembly ◽  
Reinforced Plastic ◽  
Master Pattern ◽  
Carbon Fiber Reinforced

Often, carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) manufacturing represents an expensive, time-consuming, small-scale production due to products and components characterized by complex geometric properties. In the field of orthopedic products individual molds, usually made of metal alloys or plaster, are necessary to shape the contour of the components. The presented case study focuses on individually manufactured masks for post-operative treatment of uncomplicated midfacial fractures that are frequent and typical injuries in popular contact sports like football or handball. To improve the costly process of CFRP production of individually manufactured masks, this paper describes the advantages of the combination of optical metrology (i.e. 3D-scanning) and additive manufacturing (i.e. 3D-printing). Therefore, the conventional process chain consisting of the main process steps molding (master pattern), casting (mold), CFRP laminating, curing, cutting and final assembly is replaced by 3D-scanning (instead of master pattern), followed by the revision of the CAD-model (to prevent cutting efforts), 3D-printing (mold), CFRP laminating, curing and final assembly. Summarizing, this case study on manufacturing of carbon fiber reinforced plastic orthopedics shows that the combination of innovative manufacturing technologies opens up new possibilities to increase efficiency in craft based manufacturing.

scholarly journals Optimization of a Totally Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Composite Sandwich Construction of Helicopter Floor for Weight Saving, Fuel Saving and Higher Safety

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 2735
Author(s):  
Alaa Al-Fatlawi ◽  
Károly Jármai ◽  
György Kovács
Keyword(s):  
Epoxy Resin ◽  
Glass Fibers ◽  
Interior Point Algorithm ◽  
Structural Elements ◽  
Fiber Reinforced ◽  
Fiber Reinforced Plastic ◽  
Composite Sandwich ◽  
Weight Saving ◽  
Frp Composite ◽  
Reinforced Plastic

The application of fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) composites as structural elements of air vehicles provides weight saving, which results in a reduction in fuel consumption, fuel cost, and air pollution, and a higher speed. The goal of this research was to elaborate a new optimization method for a totally FRP composite construction for helicopter floors. During the optimization, 46 different layer combinations of 4 different FRP layers (woven glass fibers with phenolic resin; woven glass fibers with epoxy resin; woven carbon fibers with epoxy resin; hybrid composite) and FRP honeycomb core structural elements were investigated. The face sheets were composed of a different number of layers with cross-ply, angle-ply, and multidirectional fiber orientations. During the optimization, nine design constraints were considered: deflection; face sheet stress (bending load, end loading); stiffness; buckling; core shear stress; skin wrinkling; intracell buckling; and shear crimping. The single-objective weight optimization was solved by applying the Interior Point Algorithm of the Matlab software, the Generalized Reduced Gradient (GRG) Nonlinear Algorithm of the Excel Solver software, and the Laminator software. The Digimat-HC software solved the numerical models for the optimum sandwich plates of helicopter floors. The main contribution is developing a new method for optimizing a totally FRP composite sandwich structure—due to its material constituents and construction—that is more advantageous than traditional helicopter floors. A case study validated this fact.

scholarly journals Stressing State Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Beam Strengthened by CFRP Sheet with Anchoring Device

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 576
Author(s):  
Liang Luo ◽  
Jie Lai ◽  
Jun Shi ◽  
Guorui Sun ◽  
Jie Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Fiber ◽  
Strain Distribution ◽  
Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic ◽  
Rc Beams ◽  
Fiber Reinforced ◽  
Strain Distribution Pattern ◽  
Fiber Reinforced Plastic ◽  
Reinforced Plastic ◽  
Cfrp Sheet ◽  
Carbon Fiber Reinforced

This paper investigates the working performance of reinforcement concrete (RC) beams strengthened by Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) with different anchoring under bending moment, based on the structural stressing state theory. The measured strain values of concrete and Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) sheet are modeled as generalized strain energy density (GSED), to characterize the RC beams’ stressing state. Then the Mann–Kendall (M–K) criterion is applied to distinguish the characteristic loads of structural stressing state from the curve, updating the definition of structural failure load. In addition, for tested specimens with middle anchorage and end anchorage, the torsion applied on the anchoring device and the deformation width of anchoring device are respectively set parameters to analyze their effects on the reinforcement performance of CFRP sheet through comparing the strain distribution pattern of CFRP. Finally, in order to further explore the strain distribution of the cross-section and analyze the stressing-state characteristics of the RC beam, the numerical shape function (NSF) method is proposed to reasonably expand the limited strain data. The research results provide a new angle of view to conduct structural analysis and a reference to the improvement of reinforcement effect of CFRP.

scholarly journals Comparison of Mode Shapes of Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Material Considering Carbon Fiber Direction

Crystals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 311
Author(s):  
Chan-Jung Kim
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Fiber ◽  
Modal Analysis ◽  
Dynamic Behavior ◽  
Mode Shapes ◽  
Modal Parameters ◽  
Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic ◽  
Fiber Direction ◽  
Fiber Reinforced ◽  
Fiber Reinforced Plastic ◽  
Reinforced Plastic

Previous studies have demonstrated the sensitivity of the dynamic behavior of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) material over the carbon fiber direction by performing uniaxial excitation tests on a simple specimen. However, the variations in modal parameters (damping coefficient and resonance frequency) over the direction of carbon fiber have been partially explained in previous studies because all modal parameters have only been calculated using the representative summed frequency response function without modal analysis. In this study, the dynamic behavior of CFRP specimens was identified from experimental modal analysis and compared five CFRP specimens (carbon fiber direction: 0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, and 90°) and an isotropic SCS13A specimen using the modal assurance criterion. The first four modes were derived from the SCS13A specimen; they were used as reference modes after verifying with the analysis results from a finite element model. Most of the four mode shapes were found in all CFRP specimens, and the similarity increased when the carbon fiber direction was more than 45°. The anisotropic nature was dominant in three cases of carbon fiber, from 0° to 45°, and the most sensitive case was found in Specimen #3.

Study on the mechanism of inhomogeneous microdamage in short-pulse laser processing of carbon fiber reinforced plastic

2021 ◽  
pp. 073168442098359
Author(s):  
Luyao Xu ◽  
Jiuru Lu ◽  
Kangmei Li ◽  
Jun Hu
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Fiber ◽  
Pulse Energy ◽  
Short Pulse ◽  
Heterogeneous Material ◽  
Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic ◽  
Fiber Reinforced ◽  
Processing Efficiency ◽  
Fiber Reinforced Plastic ◽  
Reinforced Plastic ◽  
Carbon Fiber Reinforced

In this article, a micro-heterogeneous material simulation model with carbon fiber and resin phase about laser ablation on carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) is established by Ansys. The ablation process of CFRP by nanosecond ultraviolet laser is simulated, and the mechanism of pulse energy and spot spacing on the heat-affected zone (HAZ) is studied, then the process parameters are optimized with the goal of HAZ size and processing efficiency, and finally the validity of the model is verified by experiments. It is found that the residual gradient and the width of the radial HAZ increase with the increase of the spot spacing, and the width of the axial HAZ decreases slightly with the increase of the spot spacing, which indicates the existence of the optimal spot spacing. Second, the ablation depth increases with the increase of the pulse energy, and the carbon fiber retains a relatively complete degree of exposure when the pulse energy is low, which has a certain guiding significance for the cleaning and bonding of CFRP.

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