Accurate evaluation of the transverse shear modulus in unidirectional fibrous composites

A new relation for the prediction of the transverse shear modulus in unidirectional fiber composites has been derived. The theoretical results of this relationship are in better agreement with the experiments than those of other relations, existing in the literature. The discrepancies, which are observed among the theoretical predictions and the experimental values, are explained by the consideration of the boundary layers existing between the matrix and the fibers of the composite. A new model, which includes the intermediate phase between the matrix and the fiber, called the mesophase, is considered in order to take into account the above-mentioned layers.     

A failure criterion for fiber reinforced polymer composites under combined compression–torsion loading

A fracture mechanics based failure criterion for unidirectional composites under combined loading has been developed. The predictions from this criterion have been compared with experimental data obtained from combined compression–torsion loading of glass and carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites of 50% fiber volume fraction. The specimens were loaded under rotation control and displacement control in a proportional manner. Comparison of the Budiansky–Fleck kinking model, specialized to a solid circular cylinder, and the new failure model against experimental data suggests that the Budiansky–Fleck model predictions do not capture the variation of compressive strength as a function of shear stress for glass fiber composites. This is because these composites fail predominantly by compressive splitting. The Budiansky–Fleck model predictions are appropriate for composites that fail by compressive kinking. The new model predictions capture the experimental results for glass composites where the compression strength is initially unaffected by shear stress but undergoes a drastic reduction when a critical value of shear stress is reached.     

The Bauschinger effect and its role in mechanical anisotropy

A new relationship has been obtained experimentally between the amount of pre-strain and the decrease of yield stress due to the Bauschinger effect. From this relation, the yield criterion including the concept of kinematical hardening has been derived. This criterion has been successfully applied to the strain-induced mechanical anisotropy of isotropic materials.     

A plane stress formulation for elastic-plastic deformation of unidirectional composites

A plane stress analysis of the elastic-plastic deformation of unidirectional composites is presented. A continuum model based on the solid-mixture concept is selected as the basis for the analysis. Model parameters, including process-dependent variables, are deduced from experiments performed on unidirectional composites. A computer program MET1MAT has been developed accordingly and tested for a few simple in-plane loading cases. Experimental data for uniaxial tests performed in longitudinal and transverse directions and for a few biaxial tests are presented to substantiate the analysis. And, finally, application of the results to laminated metal matrix composites is discussed.     

Damage growth by debonding in a single fibre metal matrix composite: Elastoplasticity and strain energy density criterion

A displacement-based finite element-based numerical approach has been employed to study the damage growth in a unidirectional SiC/Al composite containing a pre-existing crack along the fibre/matrix interface. The composite is modeled as a two-material cylinder subjected to uniform displacement. A detailed analysis is made for the stress field in the vicinity of the debond crack tip. This approach incorporates an elastic-plastic analysis combined with a strain energy density criterion to predict debonded crack growth direction, extended stable growth and final termination. The influence of contact taking place between the debonded surfaces is also considered. It is shown that such surface contact leads to reduced stress and strain fields around the crack tip, while the extent of reduction is increased with debonding length. By combining the reduced stress field with the strain energy density criterion, a limiting value for the debonding extension can be calculated for the critical applied displacement that led to fibre fracture.     

双向加载条件下尼龙6-橡胶复合材料的应力松弛研究

在双向测试系统上进行了不同纵向应变与不同横向应变的双向松弛实验,研究了在双向拉伸载荷作用下单向尼龙6-橡胶复合材料的应力松弛特性．为了预测尼龙6-橡胶复合材料的应力松弛规律,提出了一个松弛型本构模型．当试件承受双向拉伸载荷作用时,将松弛型本构模型获得的理论曲线和实验数据进行了对比,二者取得了较好的一致性．     

A DAMAGE MECHANICS MODEL FOR FATIGUE LIFE PREDICTION OF FIBER REINFORCED POLYMER COMPOSITE LAMINA

A damage mechanics fatigue life prediction model for the fiber reinforced polymer lamina is established. The stiffness matrix of the lamina is derived by elastic constants of fiber and matrix. Two independent damage degrees of fiber and matrix are introduced to establish constitutive relations with damage. The damage driving forces and damage evolution equations for fiber and matrix are derived respectively. Fatigue tests on 0°and 90°unidirectional laminates are conducted respectively to identify parameters in damage evolution equations of fiber and matrix. The failure criterion of the lamina is presented. Finally, the life prediction model for lamina is proposed.     

A rigorous derivation of the bioheat equation for local tissue heat transfer based on a volume averaging theory

A general three-dimensional bioheat equation for local tissue heat transfer has been derived with less assumptions, exploiting a volume averaging theory commonly used in fluid-saturated porous media. The volume averaged energy equations obtained for the arterial blood, venous blood and tissue were combined together to form a single energy equation in terms of the tissue temperature alone. The resulting energy equation turns out to be remarkably simple as we define the effective thermal conductivity tensor, which accounts not only for the countercurrent heat exchange mechanism but also for the thermal dispersion mechanism. The present equation for local tissue heat transfer naturally reduces to the Weinbaum-Jiji equation for the unidirectional case.     

On dynamic behaviour of medium-thickness plates with uniperiodic structure

Summary An averaging 2-D model of a rectangular plate with unidirectional microperiodic structure is presented in this paper. The approach is partly based on the results exposed in [7]. The model describes the length-scale effect, i.e. the influence of the size of microstructure on the overall dynamic plate behaviour. This effect has not yet been considered in the literature on asymptotic homogenized models of periodic plates. The equations of motion of the elastic plate are introduced according to the Hencky-Bolle assumptions. It is demonstrated that the dynamics of plates with unidirectional periodic structure cannot be treated as a specific case of those with bidirectional periodicity. A lower frequency of free vibrations of a linear - elastic plate band has been determined and compared with the numerical results obtained by the FEM, revealing the consistence of the proposed method. However, a higher free vibration frequency depends in this contribution on the length-scale and cannot be derived using the homogenized plate model.     

A simple shear cell for the direct visualization of step-stress deformation in soft materials

We introduce a custom-built stress-controlled shear cell coupled to a confocal microscope for direct visualization of constant-stress shear deformation in soft materials. The torque generator is a cylindrical Taylor–Couette system with a Newtonian fluid between a rotating inner bob and a free-to-move outer cup. A spindle/cone assembly is coaxially coupled to the cup and transfers the torque exerted by the fluid to the sample of interest in a cone-and-plate geometry. We demonstrate the performance of our device in both steady-state and transient experiments with different viscoelastic materials. Our apparatus can conduct unidirectional constant-stress experiments as accurately as most commercial rheometers, with the capability to directly visualize the flow field using tracer particles. Further, our step-stress experiments on viscoelastic materials are devoid of creep ringing, which is an advantageous aspect of our torque generation mechanism. We believe that the device presented here could serve as a powerful and cost-effective tool to investigate the microstructural determinants of nonlinear rheology in complex fluids.     

A new approach for failure criterion for sheet metals

The interpretation of sheet forming simulations relies on failure criteria to define the limits of metal deformation. The common requirements for these criteria across a broad range of application areas have not yet been satisfied or fully identified, and a single criterion to satisfy all needs has not been developed. Areas where existing criteria appear to be lacking are in the comprehension of the effects of non-proportional loading, general non-planar and triaxial stress loading, and process and material mechanisms that differentiate between necking and fracture. This study was mainly motivated to provide an efficient method for the analysis of necking and fracture limits for sheet metals. In this paper, a model for the necking limit is combined with a model for the fracture limit in the principal stress space by employing a stress-based forming limit curve (FLC) and the maximum shear stress (MSS) criterion. A new metal failure criterion for in-plane isotropic metals is described, based on and validated by a set of critical experiments. This criterion also takes into consideration of the stress distribution through the thickness of the sheet metal to identify the mode of failure, including localized necking prior to fracture, surface cracking, and through-thickness fracture, with or without a preceding neck. The fracture model is also applied to the openability of a food can for AA 5182. The predicted results show very good agreement with the experimentally observed data.