Calculation of the Ultimate State of Reinforced Plastics and Unoriented Polymers in Asymmetric High-Cycle Tension–Compression

The fatigue failure of reinforced plastics and unoriented polymers under a joint action of static and high-cycle loadings is considered. The fatigue failure strength is estimated from stress range diagrams with a static tensile component. The models of ultimate state are constructed based on the hypothesis of existence of a unified ultimate diagram invariant with respect to the number of cycles to failure. The unified diagram is given by a transcendental power function whose exponent characterizes the sensitivity of the material to the stress-cycle asymmetry. The models of ultimate state make it possible to span practically all forms of ultimate diagrams of composite and polymer materials, including concave, rectilinear, S-shaped, and convex ones.     

Correlation between the strength of fiber-reinforced plastics and the adhesive strength of fiber—Matrix joints

The relationship between the strength (σc) of unidirectional fiber-reinforced plastics in different stressed states and the interfacial strength of their components is investigated. The shear adhesive strength (τ0) of fiber—matrix joints determined by the pull-out technique is used as a measure of the interfacial strength. To obtain the correlation curves betweenσc andτ0, the experimental results are used, where both the plastic and adhesive strength change under the influence of a single factor. In this case, such factors are the fiber surface treatment, nature and composition of polymer matrices, and test temperature. It is shown that the strength of the glass, carbon, and boron plastics increases practically linearly with increased interfacial strength. Such a behavior is observed in any loading conditions (tension, shear, bending, and compression). Sometimes, a small (10–20%) increase in the adhesive strength induces a significant (50–70%) growth in the material strength. Therefore, the interface is the “weak link” in these composites. The shape of theσc—τ0 curves for composites based on the high-strength and high-modulus aramid fibers and different thermoreactive matrices depends on the nature of the fiber and the type of stress state. In many cases, the composite strength does not depend on the interfacial strength. Then, the fiber itself is the “weak link” in these composites. Submitted to the 11th International Conference on Mechanics of Composite Materials (Riga, June 11–15, 2000). Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 36, No. 3, pp. 291–304, May–June, 2000.     

An accurate method to predict the stress concentration in composite laminates with a circular hole under tensile loading

The paper presents a theoretical-numerical hybrid method for determining the stresses distribution in composite laminates containing a circular hole and subjected to uniaxial tensile loading. The method is based upon an appropriate corrective function allowing a simple and rapid evaluation of stress distributions in a generic plate of finite width with a hole based on the theoretical stresses distribution in an infinite plate with the same hole geometry and material. In order to verify the accuracy of the method proposed, various numerical and experimental tests have been performed by considering different laminate lay-ups; in particular, the experimental results have shown that a combined use of the method proposed and the well-know point-stress criterion leads to reliable strength predictions for GFRP or CFRP laminates with a circular hole. Russian translation published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 43, No. 4, pp. 531–570, July–August, 2007.     

Residual strength of GFRP at high-cycle fatigue

Degradation of the residual strength of a glass-fiber-reinforced polyester composite of a lay-up typical of the wind rotor blade material is studied at low-cycle fatigue. A gradual reduction of the residual strength is observed as expected for GRP, accompanied by an increasing scatter of strength. The residual strength model based on the strength-life equal rank assumption yields an accurate approximation of experimental data. The strength reduction at a stress level corresponding to high-cycle fatigue (N>10 ⁶ cycles) appears to correlate well with the test results at higher stress levels, which indicates that the strength degradation at the design stress level can be evaluated using low-cycle tests. Assuming that the parameters of the strength degradation model do not depend on the applied stress level, the residual strength data obtained in low stress level tests of comparatively short duration can be used to estimate the average fatigue life at the same stress thus reducing the total test time. Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 35, No. 5, pp. 595–604, September–October, 1999.     

Markov model of connection between the distribution of static strength and fatigue life of a fibrous composite

Within the framework of a unified mathematical model based on the Markov chain theory, an attempt is made to describe the distribution of static strength, the fatigue curve, and the accumulation of fatigue damages. It is assumed that the fatigue failure of a test specimen occurs after the destruction of some its critical microvolume consisting of two — elastic (brittle fibers) and plastic (matrix) — parts. In the second part, plastic strains accumulate as soon as the cyclic load exceeds some level. Numerical examples are presented. __________ Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 42, No. 5, pp. 615–630, September–October, 2006.     

Cryogenic mechanical response of multilayer satin weave CFRP composites with cracks

We deal with the thermomechanical response of multilayer satin weave carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates with internal and/or edge cracks and temperature-dependent material properties subjected to tensile loading at cryogenic temperatures. The composite material is assumed to be under the generalized plane strain. Cracks are located in the transverse fiber bundles and extend to the interfaces between two fiber bundles. A finite-element model is employed to study the influence of residual thermal stresses on the mechanical behavior of multilayer CFRP woven laminates with cracks. Numerical calculations are carried out, and Young’s modulus and stress distributions near the crack tip are shown graphically. Russian translation published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 44, No. 4, pp. 479–492, July–August, 2008.     

Deformability and strengh of expanded polystyrene (EPS) under short-term shear loading

Data obtained in investigating the ultimate strength and deformability of expanded polystyrene under short-term shear loading according to EN 12090 are discussed. Linear regression equations are used for describing the ultimate shear strength and modulus in relation to the density of EPS. A correlation is found to exist between the ultimate strength of EPS and its density and specimen thickness. An empirical dependence between the shear modulus and density of EPS is established. The strains corresponding to the conditional limit of proportionality and to the ultimate shear strength of EPS in short-term loading are determined. __________ Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 43, No. 1, pp. 121–134, January–February, 2007.     

简支矩形复合材料薄板压缩屈曲后的极限强度

本文通过283块简支矩形玻璃钢薄板的压缩屈曲后极限强度的试验,证明了复合材料薄板在屈曲失稳后仍能继续承载,以玻璃钢为例,可以超过临界载荷的十几倍。文中对薄板的极限强度进行了大挠度和小挠度理论分析,结合复合材料的能量强度理论,最后得出有关极限强度计算公式的C参数曲线,对于45°方向的薄板与试验结果较符合,对于经纬向薄板当β<0.11时比试验结果略大。文中给出的C参数可供产品设计时参考。     

Numerical modeling of deformation and fracture of a multiphase polymer concrete

A numerical method for predicting the deformational and strength characteristics of a calcite-quartzitic polymer concrete from the known properties of its components is developed based on the finite-element method. Components of the material are assumed elastic and isotropic, and the filler particles are modeled by round inclusions perfectly bonded to the polymer matrix. The size distribution of the inclusions correspond to that of actual fillers. The destruction process of the components is simulated by sequentially excluding the particles in which the maximum principal stress has achieved the ultimate value for this component. A comparison of calculated and experimental characteristics of the polymer concrete showed errors of 2–4% for the elastic modulus and about 10% for the ultimate strength if the finite-element cell included not less than 20–30 average-size particles and 2–5 large ones. __________ Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 42, No. 6, pp. 817–824, November–December, 2006     

Deformation behavior and strength of unidirectional carbon fiber laminates

The elastic deformation behavior and the load-carrying capacity of unidirectional carbon fiber laminates under static loading at room and cryogenic (down to 77 K) temperatures are investigated. The possible ways of predicting their elastic and strength characteristics proceeding from the volume content and mechanical parameters of fibers and matrix are analyzed. __________ Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 42, No. 5, pp. 583–598, September–October, 2006.     

A method for predicting the deflection of reinforced concrete beams strengthened with carbon plates

For strengthening bent beams, plates of reinforced plastics are glued to their tensioned surface. As s result, the beam becomes layered, and it is possible to control its rigidity and deflection. Based on the methods of structural mechanics of layered media, a method is elaborated for determining the deflection of such beams on the entire range of loading up to their ultimate failure. A comparison between the theoretical and experimental results is carried out. __________ Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 42, No. 1, pp. 45–60, January–February, 2006.     

Markov model for analyzing the residual static strength of a fiber-reinforced composite

The possibility of using a unified mathematical model, based on the theory of Markov chains, to describe the distribution of the conditional fatigue limit at a fixed number of loading cycles and the residual strength of a specimen after cyclic loading is demonstrated. Numerical examples are presented. __________ Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 44, No. 4, pp. 559–568, July–August, 2008.     

Behavior of concrete cylinders confined by carbon-composite tapes and prestressed yarns 1. Experimental data

The results of a comprehensive test program for the mechanical behavior of round concrete specimens confined by carbon-fiber epoxy tapes and prestressed carbon yarns are reported. Five different concrete batches of compressive strength from 20 to 100 MPa and the confinement of various thickness and pretension level were investigated. The specimens, which were subjected to monotonic or repeated compressive loadings, showed a nonlinear stress-strain behavior with a significant ductility and increased ultimate strength, in contrary to the brittle behavior of plain concrete. The limit of linearity on the stress-strain diagrams of the confined concrete roughly coincided with the ultimate strength of plain concrete. Above this limit, the damage accumulation and plastic deformations proceeded in the confined specimens. This fact was evidenced by the increasing slope of deformation diagrams in unloadings and repeated loadings and by the pronounced residual strains. The limit of linearity could be raised significantly by pretension of the carbon yarns during their winding. Russian translation published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 42, No. 1, pp. 21–44, January–February, 2006.     

Anchorage strength models for end-debonding predictions in RC beams strengthened with FRP composites

The increase in the flexural capacity of RC beams obtained by externally bonding FRP composites to their tension side is often limited by the premature and brittle debonding of the external reinforcement. An in-depth understanding of this complex failure mechanism, however, has not yet been achieved. With specific regard to end-debonding failure modes, extensive experimental observations reported in the literature highlight the important distinction, often neglected in strength models proposed by researchers, between the peel-off and rip-off end-debonding types of failure. The peel-off failure is generally characterized by a failure plane located within the first few millimetres of the concrete cover, whilst the rip-off failure penetrates deeper into the concrete cover and propagates along the tensile steel reinforcement. A new rip-off strength model is described in this paper. The model proposed is based on the Chen and Teng peel-off model and relies upon additional theoretical considerations. The influence of the amount of the internal tensile steel reinforcement and the effective anchorage length of FRP are considered and discussed. The validity of the new model is analyzed further through comparisons with test results, findings of a numerical investigation, and a parametric study. The new rip-off strength model is assessed against a database comprising results from 62 beams tested by various researchers and is shown to yield less conservative results. Russian translation published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 44, No. 3, pp. 373–388, May–June, 2008.     

Choice of optimal structure of glass laminates with random reinforcement. I

The effect of structural parameters — length, diameter, and distribution of the reinforcing elements — on the mechanical characteristics of glass-reinforced plastics is investigated with reference to the case of glass laminates with randomly distributed, straight, uncut glass fibers in parallel planes. It is shown that the reduced strength of these laminates as compared with unidirectional material is associated with the redistribution of the load between the fibers and the resin and the relative reduction in the number of fibers in the cross section. A formula is proposed for estimating the strength of glass-reinforced plastics with a random distribution of the fibers in parallel planes.All-Union Scientific-Research Institute of Glass-Reinforced Plastics and Glass Fiber, Moscow Region. Moscow Bauman Higher Technical College. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, Vol. 4, No. 6, pp. 1043–1050, November–December, 1968.     

Spatial braiding of cylindrical articles

The effective deformative characteristics of spatially reinforced composites made by spatial braiding along the generatrices of a one-sheet hyperboloid are analyzed. The geometrical relationships determining the structure of a unit cell of a braided composite are derived. The effective thermoelastic characteristics are calculated by the method of orientational averaging. The dependences of the bending and torsional stiffnesses of thick-walled cylindrical rods — made by the method suggested and by winding — on the braiding/winding angle are compared. The numerical estimations are given for rods made of carbon (CFRP) and aramid (AFRP) epoxy plastics. Submitted to the 11th International Conference on Mechanics of Composite Materials (Riga, June 11–15, 2000). Translated from Mekhanika Kompzitnykh Materialov, Vol. 36, No. 3, pp. 341–354, May–June, 2000.     

Behavior of rigid plastics under cyclic loading

Research progress on the dynamic fatigue of plastics is briefly reviewed. Attention is concentrated on the problems of damage accumulation and self-heating. The effect of various factors on the fatigue of plastics is considered. The possibility of predicting the cyclic life-time from the results of long-time static strength tests is examined. The prospects for the construction of a theory of fatigue strength in complex states of stress are weighed.Institute of Polymer Mechanics, Academy of Sciences of the Latvian SSR, Riga. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 97–107, January–February, 1969.     

On the mechanical and thermomechanical properties of low-density polyethylene/ethylene-α-octene copolymer blends

Blends of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and ethylene-octene copolymer (EOC) were obtained. The effect of EOC content and absorbed radiation dose on the mechanical and thermomechanical properties of LDPE/EOC blends are investigated. Particular attention is given to a tensile stress-strain analysis and the “form-memory” effect of the blends. With growing LDPE content, the elastic modulus, the yield stress, and the thermorelaxation and residual stresses of the blends increase, but the ultimate elongation at break decreases, which is caused by the higher crystallinity of polyethylene. As a result of radiation-induced cross-linking, the elastic modulus, the yield stress (at a 1% strain), the ultimate yield strength, and the thermorelaxation and residual stresses increase, while the ultimate elongation at break and the melt flow-behavior index decrease, which is confirmed by the growing gel fraction in the blend. __________ Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 44, No. 2, pp. 279–286, March–April, 2008.     

Deformations of pressure vessel domes in asymmetric winding

The deformation of pressure vessel domes in asymmetric winding with the use of two families of yarns is accompanied by shear deformations and torsion. For the case of large deformations, a system of equations for describing the stress-strain state of an asymmetrically reinforced netlike shell of revolution loaded with an internal pressure is obtained. It is shown that the shear deformations depend on the deformations of both the yarn families and the deformations of meridians and parallels of the shell. As an example, the dome of a pressure vessel in a deformed state is calculated for an initial equilibrium shape determined on the assumption that the yarns are inextensible. __________ Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 42, No. 4, pp. 425–432, July–August, 2006.     

Equilibrium Shapes of Pressure Vessel Domes in Asymmetric Winding

Errors in the programs of winding pressure vessels can lead to an asymmetric reinforcement structure, which affects the equilibrium shape of their domes and the tension in the left and right families of filaments. In this paper, equations determining the equilibrium shape of the domes, the tension in filaments, and the shear stresses between layers are obtained. Examples with winding trajectories in the form of geodesics and constant-deviation lines are considered. It is found that, for pressure vessels, in the absence of external torque, the tension levels in filaments of the left and right families differ considerably. It is also revealed that, for actual friction coefficients in winding, the shear stresses taken up by the binder are insignificant. __________ Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 41, No. 6, pp. 743–752, November–December, 2005.