Multiobjective optimization design of hybrid composite laminates for vibration using sequential permutation table method

Due to the large variable design space in optimization problems of composite laminates, it remains one of the challenging tasks to develop efficient optimization design methods to improve the design flexibility and efficiency. This work presents a sequential permutation table (SPT) method for the multiobjective optimization design of two-material hybrid composite laminates with simply supported boundary conditions, which maximizes the fundamental frequency and minimizes the cost/weight. Based on the vibration analysis of hybrid composite laminates, the approximate linear regularity of the square of fundamental frequency is derived, and two best ply orientations for the two materials are identified, respectively. By assigning one best ply orientation with maximum fundamental frequency at respective stacking positions, and using another best ply orientation to replace plies in the stacking sequence from the mid-plane to the outermost can lead to the optimum. Two multiobjective optimization problems are employed to verify the SPT method, results are compared with those obtained by heuristic algorithms. The obtained better solutions demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the SPT method and its potentials for optimal design of hybrid composite laminates.

Investigation of anisotropy effects in glass fibre reinforced polymer composites on tensile and shear properties using full field strain measurement and finite element multi-scale techniques

Designing highly stressed offshore renewable energy composite structures (e.g. wind and tidal turbine blades) necessitates characterisation of woven fabric composite under off axial loading. In this work a combined method of finite element analysis, digital image correlation and microscopy is used to assess the effect of ply orientation on the tensile/shear properties and failure modes of woven glass fibre reinforced polymer composites. Full field strain maps obtained by the digital image correlation method were used to evaluate the damage development and the inhomogeneity of strain localisation. The development of finite element models of mechanical test specimens is based on the analysis of micro-mechanical models of representative volume elements using a homogenisation technique in order to calculate the effective orthotropic properties. The agreement between numerically and experimentally calculated strains obtained in the elastic regimes indicates that stress analysis conducted by numerical methods is useful when characterising the effect of ply orientation on mechanical behaviour. Strain measurement conducted by the digital image correlation method indicated that there is a strong relationship between the strain distribution and the microstructure/ply orientation. In addition, it was found that the levels of localised tensile strain are higher than the global strain indicating the structural heterogeneity of the composite material. Finally, microstructural analysis of tension and shear test specimens showed that the main failure modes are de-bonded fibres, fibre pull out, in-plane/inter-laminar shear cracks and delamination.

Electric conductivity and surface potential distributions in carbon fiber reinforced composites with different ply orientations

The electric conductivity and surface potential distributions of carbon fiber laminated panels with different ply orientations have been investigated. We found that the unidirectional (UD) lamina has higher conductivity along the carbon fiber direction than the perpendicular direction, and equipotential contours also show different gradients along the two directions. The cross-ply (CP) and quasi-isotropic (QI) laminates have the mixed effects of the UD lamina electric conductivity and ply orientations, while the surface potential distributions mostly depend on the surface lamina direction. The conductivity along the thickness direction depends on each lamina and inter-laminar bonding. A finite element analysis model was also developed to show the effect of ply orientation on potential distribution. The CP and QI laminates with 0° surface ply have uniform potential distributions and isotropic electricity behaviors. The results could be used to monitor damage locations and design electric composite materials.

The role of the fiber ply configurations on the biomechanics of the hip prosthesis

The total hip replacement is the only approved procedure for restoring a degenerated hip joint through operation. The life span of a prosthesis could depend on the geometry and material properties of the implant. This study aims to analyze the biomechanics of the carbon/polyetheretherketone (PEEK) composite prosthesis having three different fiber ply configurations compared to traditional stainless steel (SS) ones. The implant-bone system was established and subjected to a load from the head of the femur and abductor muscle sides. The stresses and strains in the implant-bone systems were calculated and compared. The results revealed lower stresses and strains in composite prostheses compared to SS ones. The fiber ply orientation of the carbon/PEEK composite prosthesis is shown to be a key asset in stress and strain distribution of the 13 implant-bone systems. The fiber plies which orientated multidirectionally with −45 and +45 degrees exhibited uniform stress and strain distributions. The results suggested the advantage of using composite prostheses in implant designs as they not only invoke lower stresses and strains in the implant-bone system but also amplify the life span of implants in the body.

Influence of interface ply orientation on delamination growth in composite laminates

The standard experimental procedures for determining the interlaminar fracture toughness are designed for delamination propagation in unidirectional specimens. However, in aerospace structural components, delamination usually occurs between plies at different orientations resulting in different damage mechanisms which can increase the value of the fracture toughness as the delamination propagates. Generally, numerical analyses employ the value measured at the delamination onset, leading to conservative results since the increase resistance of the delamination is neglected. In this paper, the fracture toughness and the R-curves of carbon/epoxy IM7/8552 are experimentally evaluated in coupons with delamination positioned at 0°/0° and 45°/−45° interfaces using Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) and Mixed-Mode Bending (MMB) tests. A simplified numerical approach based on the Virtual Crack Closure Technique (VCCT) is developed to simulate variable fracture toughness with the delamination length within a Finite Element code using a predefined field variable. The results of the numerical analyses compared with the experimental data in terms of load-displacement curves demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed technique in simulating the increase resistance in delamination positioned between plies at 45°/−45° interface.

Effect of Delamination on Natural Frequencies of E-glass and S-glass Epoxy Composite Plates

The delamination is one of the major modes of failure occurring in the laminated composite due to insufficient bonding between the layers. In this paper, the natural frequencies of delaminated S-glass and E-glass epoxy cantilever composite plates are presented by employing the finite element method (FEM) approach. The rotary inertia and transverse shear deformation are considered in the present study. The effect of parameters such as the location of delamination along the length, across the thickness, the percentage of delamination, and ply-orientation angle on first three natural frequencies of the cantilever plates are presented for S-glass and E-glass epoxy composites. The standard eigenvalue problem is solved to obtain the natural frequencies and corresponding mode shapes. First three mode shape of S-Glass and E-Glass epoxy laminated composites are portrayed corresponding to different ply angle of lamina.

Experimental and Numerical Analyses on the Buckling Characteristics of Woven Flax/Epoxy Laminated Composite Plate under Axial Compression

The evolution of a sustainable green composite in various loadbearing structural applications tends to reduce pollution, which in turn enhances environmental sustainability. This work is an attempt to promote a sustainable green composite in buckling loadbearing structural applications. In order to use the green composite in various structural applications, the knowledge on its structural stability is a must. As the structural instability leads to the buckling of the composite structure when it is under an axial compressive load, the work on its buckling characteristics is important. In this work, the buckling characteristics of a woven flax/bio epoxy (WFBE) laminated composite plate are investigated experimentally and numerically when subjected to an axial compressive load. In order to accomplish the optimization study on the buckling characteristics of the composite plate among various structural criterions such as number of layers, the width of the plate and the ply orientation, the optimization tool “response surface methodology” (RSM) is used in this work. The validation of the developed finite element model in Analysis System (ANSYS) version 16 is carried out by comparing the critical buckling loads obtained from the experimental test and numerical simulation for three out of twenty samples. A comparison is then made between the numerical results obtained through ANSYS16 and the results generated using the regression equation. It is concluded that the buckling strength of the composite escalates with the number of layers, the change in width and the ply orientation. It is also noted that the weaving model of the fabric powers the buckling behavior of the composite. This work explores the feasibility of the use of the developed green composite in various buckling loadbearing structural applications. Due to the compromised buckling characteristics of the green composite with the synthetic composite, it has the capability of replacing many synthetic composites, which in turn enhances the sustainability of the environment.

The Effect of Stacking Sequence and Ply Orientation on the Mechanical Properties of Pineapple Leaf Fibre (PALF)/Carbon Hybrid Laminate Composites

In this paper, the effects of stacking sequence and ply orientation on the mechanical properties of pineapple leaf fibre (PALF)/carbon hybrid laminate composites were investigated. The hybrid laminates were fabricated using a vacuum infusion technique in which the stacking sequences and ply orientations were varied, which were divided into the categories of cross-ply symmetric, angle-ply symmetric, and symmetric quasi-isotropic. The results of tensile and flexural tests showed that the laminate with interior carbon plies and ply orientation [0°, 90°] exhibited the highest tensile strength (187.67 MPa) and modulus (5.23 GPa). However, the highest flexural strength (289.46 MPa) and modulus (4.82 GPa) were recorded for the laminate with exterior carbon plies and the same ply orientation. The fracture behaviour of the laminates was determined by using scanning electron microscopy, and the results showed that failure usually initiated at the weakest PALF layer. The failure modes included fibre pull-out, fibre breaking, matrix crack, debonding, and delamination.