Mechanical Properties and Failure Modes of CRCB Specimen Under Impact Loading

To explore the dynamic mechanical characteristics of coal-rock combined body (CRCB) load-bearing structures, impact tests were performed on CRCB specimens by using a separated Hopkinson pressure bar test device (SHPB) combined with an ultra-high-speed camera system. The propagation characteristics of stress wave , dynamic stress-strain relationship, energy evolution law, and distribution characteristics of CRCB crushed particles in the impact tests were analyzed. The obtained results showed that: with the increasing of impact velocity, the effect of the wave impedance difference between the CRCB specimens and incident bar on stress wave propagation is gradually weakened. The peak strength (sII) and peak strain of the CRCB had obvious strain-rate effects, the ratio of reflected energy decreases linearly. In addition, with increased impact velocity, the growth rate of the peak strength and ratio of absorbed energy gradually dropped, changing approximately as a power function. Macro-fractures of the CRCB mainly occurred at the coal or rock ends which is far away from the interface. When the stress at the crack tip is greater than the "weakened" coal or rock strength, the crack will continue to develop across the coal and rock interface. With the increasing of impact velocity and rock strength, the crushed coal particles gradually transform from massive to powdering, and the average size of crushed coal blocks decreases, which leads to a gradual increase in the fractal dimension of the CRCB specimens. Therefore, the monitoring and prevention of dynamic loads should be strengthened in the coal mines with thick and hard roofs.

Physical and Mechanical Characterization of Titica Vine (Heteropsis flexuosa) Incorporated Epoxy Matrix Composites

Titica vine (Heteropsis flexuosa) is a typical plant of the Amazon region commonly used for making baskets, bags, brooms and furniture, owing to its stiff fibers. In spite of its interesting properties, there is so far no reported information regarding the use of titica vine fibers (TVFs) in engineering composite materials. In this work, the TVF and its epoxy composites were for the first time physically, thermally and mechanically characterized. Additionally, the effect of two kinds of chemical treatments, one with sodium carbonate and one with calcium lignosulfonate, as well as different volume fractions, 10, 20, 30 and 40 vol%, of TVF-reinforced composites were assessed for corresponding basic properties. The thermogravimetric results of the composites reveal enhanced thermal stability for higher TVF content. In addition, the composite incorporated with 40 vol% of TVFs treated with sodium carbonate absorbed 19% more water than the composites with untreated fibers. By contrast, the calcium lignosulfonate treatment decreased water absorption by 8%. The Charpy and Izod impact tests showed that the composites, incorporated with the highest investigated volume fraction (40 vol%) of TVF, significantly increased the absorbed energy by 18% and 28%, respectively, compared to neat epoxy. ANOVA and Tukey statistical analyses displayed no direct influence of the chemical treatments on the energy absorption of the composites for either impact tests. SEM images revealed the main fracture mechanisms responsible for the performance of TVF composites.

Impact Response of Composite Sandwich Cylindrical Shells

Nowadays, due to the complexity and design of many advanced structures, cylindrical shells are starting to have numerous applications. Therefore, the main goal of this work is to study the effect of thickness and the benefits of a carbon composite sandwich cylindrical shell incorporating a cork core, compared to a conventional carbon composite cylindrical shell, in terms of the static and impact performances. For this purpose, static and impact tests were carried out with the samples freely supported on curved edges, while straight edges were bi-supported. A significant effect of the thickness on static properties and impact performance was observed. Compared to thinner shells, the failure load on the static tests increased by 237.9% and stiffness by 217.2% for thicker shells, while the restored energy obtained from the impact tests abruptly increased due to the collapse that occurred for the thinner ones. Regarding the sandwich shells, the incorporation of a cork core proved to be beneficial because it promoted an increase in the restored energy of around 44.8% relative to the conventional composite shell. Finally, when a carbon skin is replaced by a Kevlar one (hybridization effect), an improvement in the restored energy of about 20.8% was found. Therefore, it is possible to conclude that numerous industrial applications can benefit from cylindrical sandwiches incorporating cork, and their hybridization with Kevlar fibres should be especially considered when they are subject to impact loads. This optimized lay-up is suggested because Kevlar fibres fail through a series of small fibril failures, while carbon fibres exhibit a brittle collapse.

Evaluation of Testing Uncertainties for the Impact Resistance of Machine Guards

Machine guards provide protection against ejection of parts during operation, such as chips or workpiece fragments. They are considered safe if the impact resistance is at least as high as the resulting projectile energy in the worst case of damage. To protect the machine operator, the impact resistance of machine guards is determined according to ISO standards. The bisection method can be used to determine the impact resistance through impact tests. However, this method is inaccurate for a small number of impact tests and does not provide an indication of uncertainties in the determination. Moreover, the result of testing is validated in different ways depending from the standard utilized for testing.Relevant uncertainties affecting impact testing and a new probabilistic approach for assessing the impact resistance using the Recht & Ipson equation are presented. With multiple impact tests at different initial velocities a Recht & Ipson best-fit curve and a confidence interval for a ballistic limit can be obtained, which is used to determine the impact resistance by defining a velocity reduction coefficient. This method can be applied to any machine guard made of ductile material. This paper validates the Recht & Ipson method by performing impact tests with a standardized 2.5 kg projectile on polycarbonate sheets of different thicknesses. Determination of the ballistic limit showed good agreement with experimental results. With the ballistic limits, the velocity reduction coefficients have been found to determine the impact resistances. Therefore, an alternative method for standardized tests to determine the impact resistance was found.

Comparison of the Mechanical Behavior of Concrete Containing Recycled CFRP Fibers and Polypropylene Fibers

The incorporation of natural or recycled fibers in concrete represents a field for improvement in this structural material and a step towards sustainability. The objective of this research is to determine whether the addition of recycled carbon fibers (CFRP), which have been hardened using epoxy resin, improves the behavior of concrete and whether its performance is comparable to that achieved by adding polypropylene fibers, which would result in a viable recycling alternative for this type of fiber. In order to explore this objective, 120 specimens were produced, on which compression, flexural, and impact tests were performed, and into which recycled CFRP fibers or polypropylene fibers were incorporated. By comparing the results obtained, it may be concluded that the addition of fibers substantially improves the ductility of the concrete and reduces the spalling effect when compared to concretes without added fibers. The concretes containing recycled CFRP fibers in quantities of 3 kg/m3 and 6 kg/m3 obtain better flexural and impact behaviors than concretes featuring the same amounts of polypropylene fibers, making this recycling alternative viable for CFRP fibers as well as reducing the amount of energy and raw materials that would be used to manufacture the fibers.