The fracture behavior of graphite/epoxy laminates

The results of uniaxial tensile tests conducted on a variety of graphite/epoxy laminates containing narrow rectangular slits and square or circular holes with various aspect ratios are discussed. The techniques used to study stable-crack or damage-zone growth—namely, birefringence coatings, COD gages, and microscopic observations are discussed. Initial and final-fracture modes are discussed as well as the effect of notch size and shape and laminate type on the fracture process. Characteristic lengths are calculated using the point, average and inherent flaw theories and comparisons with observations are discussed. Further, the effect of flaw geometry on stress states and deformations is assessed.Y. T. Yeow is associated with Allied Chemical Corporation, Morristown, NJ 07960; was formerly Research Associate, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061Paper was presented at 1977 SESA Spring Meeting held in Dallas, TX on May 15–20.     

Fiber fracture and strength degradation in unidirectional graphite/epoxy composite materials

An experimental study was conducted to determine the influence of load factor on fiber fracture development and residual strength of fatigue loaded unidirectional graphite/epoxy composite laminated. 8-phy composite laminates with a layer of release cloth imbedded at the middle ply were fatigued at different load levels and were examined for fiber fracture and residual strength at several stages of life based on the average number of cycles to failure (according to S-N data). From the experimental results, it is evident that the number of fiber fractures is nearly constant after the first few percent of the life. It is also suggested that the load level is much more important than the number of cycles of loading in the determination of the state of fiber fracture. This behavior was interrupted at high load levels (S60% S_u where the final fracture was highly affected by the longitudinal matrix splittings. Residual strength is found to be independent of the global fiber fracture density, and to be controlled by local behavior such as matrix cracking, local clustering of fiber fractures, and other local stress concentrations.     

Stability of graphite/epoxy structures with arbitrary symmetrical laminates

This paper is concerned with compression testing of thin-walled graphite/epoxy structures and the development of empirical stability methods of analysis. The laminates of the structures tested were T-300/5208 graphite/epoxy with arbitrary, symmetrical stacking sequences. Crippling tests were performed on flat plates to generate no-edge-free and one-edge-free empirical crippling curves for use in buckling analysis of thin-walled graphite/epoxy short columns. Crippling tests of square tubes confirmed correlation with flat plates. Short-column tests of similar square tubes and tests of lsection members substantiated use of the Johnson short-column method. Ultimate compression tests were performed for most laminates, and nonlinear stress-strain curves were recorded in all cases.     

An experimental investigation on the tensile moduli and strengths of graphite/epoxy laminates

The results of a series of tensile tests on graphite/epoxy [0°]_8S and [0°/±30°/0°]_2S laminates at rates varying from 0.002 in/min to 2 in./min are reported. The loads are applied at various angles to the fiber directions in each case. The rate-dependent behavior of the stress-strain response is assessed. Evidence is presented to indicate that failure first occurs on inner plies. Also, evidence is presented to indicate that, in some cases, moduli increase with increased stress or strain level. Lamination theory is used to predict moduli and comparisons with experiment are given. This theory is also used in conjunction with three failure theories to predict ultimate strengths with varying degrees of success. Further, two approaches to ply unloading after first-ply failure are used and discussed. One is a standard method found in the literature while the other is a proposed ‘strength-of-materials’ type of technique which is computationally much simpler.     

Thermal residual stresses in thick graphite/epoxy composite laminates—Uniaxial approach

Thermal residual stresses have been known to be very large in laminates of continuous-fiber-reinforced polymer composites. When the thickness of the laminate is large, however, the measurement of the residual stresses raises questions on the accuracy of the conventional methods. A novel concept of layer separation is developed to measure quantitatively and precisely the tensile residual stresses in thick plates with layered distribution of residual stresses. It is applied to thick [O₂/9O₄]_13s, AS/3501-6 graphite/epoxy laminates. The test specimens were mechanically modeled into the thin strips for the application of the new concept of layer separation. The tensile residual stresses measured in the 90-deg layers of these laminates are nonuniform throughout the specimen, and vary from 55.6 MPa to 71.4 MPa. It is very interesting to compare these values with the transverse strengthF ₂ ^tu of AS/3501-6 unidirectional composites, which is 65.4 MPa.     

Designing for tolerance to impact damage at fastener holes in graphite/epoxy laminates under compression

This paper illustrates how fracture mechanics tools may be used to estimate the residual strength of impact damaged fastener holes in composite laminates. Finite element analysis is carried out in order to study the effect of the delamination damage. It is shown that as the size of the damage is increased, a stage is reached after which a significant further increase in damage does not result in a significant decrease in residual compressive strength.     

Imminent fracture detection in graphite/epoxy using acoustic emission

An experiment designed to detect incipient failure in graphite/epoxy tensile specimens is described. Tests using eighteen samples of six different graphite/epoxy compositions in six-ply balanced [0/+45/?45], laminates indicate that a failure precursor does exist. This precursor takes the form of a sudden reduction in the acoustic-emission output at 99 percent of the ultimate tensile load, and evidence indicates that the reduction is the result of a change in the fundamental failure mechanism. The shape of the acoustic-emission countrate curve is analyzed and found to correlate well with micro-mechanical fracture activity.     

Interlaminar fracture toughness of graphite/epoxy composite under mixed-mode deformations

An antisymmetric test fixture is employed to investigate interlaminar fracture behavior in graphite/epoxy composite material under mixed-mode deformations. Finite correction factors for the graphite/epoxy fracture specimen with various crack lengths are used to determine the interlaminar fracture toughness by finite-element stress analysis. Interlaminar fracture characteristics of graphite/epoxy composite material under mode-I, mode-II and mixed-mode deformations are evaluated experimentally. A mixed-mode fracture criterion is also investigated to obtain information on mixedmode interlaminar fracture behavior of graphite/epoxy composite material.Paper was presented at the 1988 SEM Spring Conference on Experimental Mechanics held in Portland, OR on June 5–10.     

On the statistical analysis of local fracture stresses in notched bars

Test results for critical local fracture stresses are analysed statistically for both “as-received” and “degraded” pressure-vessel weld metal. The values were determined from the fracture loads of blunt-notch four-point-bend specimens fractured over a range of low test temperatures, making use of results from a finite-element stress analysis of the stress-strain distributions ahead of the notch root. The “degraded” material tested in this work has been austenitized at a high temperature, followed by both prestraining and temper embrittlement. This has led to a situation in which the fracture stress for the “degraded” material is reduced significantly below that for the “as-received” material. The fracture mechanisms are different in that the “degraded” material shows evidence of intergranular fracture as well as cleavage fracture (in coarse grain size) whereas the “as-received” material shows only cleavage fracture (in fine grain size). The critical stress (σ_F) distributions plotted on normal probability paper show that the experimental cumulative distribution function (CDF) is linear for each condition with different mean values: for “as-received” material and for “degraded” material. The values of standard deviation are small and almost identical (33-). The decrease of the local fracture stress after degradation is related to the local fracture micro-mechanisms. Statistical analysis of the results for the two conditions supports the hypothesis that the values of σ_F are essentially single valued, within random experimental errors. A similar analysis of the data treating both conditions as a single population reveals some interesting points relating to statistical modelling and lower-bound estimation for mechanical properties. Comparisons are made with Weibull analysis of the data. A further conclusion is that it is extremely important to base any statistical model on inferences drawn from micro-mechanical modelling of processes, and that examination of “normal” CDFs can often provide good indications of when it is necessary to subject data to further statistical and physical analysis.     

On the use of notched collars on an axisymmetric jet

This paper reports an experimental study conducted on the use of circular, V- and A-notched collars with the expansion-ratio of 3 for a Re = 20,000 axisymmetric jet by using hot-wire anemometry. Results show that limited specific differences in the centerline velocity decay and turbulent intensity levels arise from the use of notched collars. The overall flow field of the collared-jets and their self-excitation mechanisms are also not significantly influenced by modifications to the axial distance distribution of the collars, at least for the notch configurations used in the present study. Observations gathered in the present study suggest that altering the collar cross-sectional geometry, length and expansion-ratio remains to be more effective control techniques for collared-jets.     

Probability distribution of fracture elongation,strength and toughness of notched rectangular blocks with lognormal Young's modulus

We find analytical approximations to the probability distribution of fracture properties of one-dimensional rods and thin two-dimensional plates when Young’s modulus varies spatially as an isotropic lognormal field. The properties considered are the elongation, strength, and toughness modulus at fracture initiation and at ultimate failure. This is an extension of a previous study that, under the same conditions, dealt with the distribution of the bulk elastic moduli (Dimas et al., 2015). For all quantities at fracture initiation our approach is analytical in 1D and semi-analytical in 2D. For ultimate failure, we quantify the random effects of fracture propagation and crack arrest by fitting regression models to simulation data and combine the regressions with the distributions at fracture initiation. The results are validated through a series of Monte Carlo simulations. Through parametric analysis, we gain insight into the strengthening/weakening roles of the Euclidean dimension and size of the specimen and the variance and correlation function of the log-modulus field.     

Behavior of graphite/epoxy plates with holes under biaxial loading

An experimental investigation was conducted to study the behavior under biaxial tensile loading of quasiisotropic graphite/epoxy plates with circular holes and to determine the influence of hole diameter on failure. The specimens were 40 cm×40 cm (16 in.×16 in.) laminates of [0/±45/90] _s layup. Four hole diameters, 2.54 cm (1.00 in.), 1.91 cm (0.75 in.), 1.27 cm (0.50 in.) and 0.64 cm (0.25 in.), were investigated. Deformations and strains were measured using strain gages and birefringent coatings. Equal biaxial loading was introduced by means fo four whiffle-tree grip linkages and controlled with a servohyraulic system. Initially, the circumferential strain is uniform around the boundary of the hole. Subsequently, with increasing load, regions of high strain concentration with nonlinear response develop at eight characteristic locations 22.5 deg off the fiber axes. Failure in the form of cracking and delamination initiates at these points. Maximum strains at failure on the hole boundary reach values up to twice the ultimate strain of the unnotched laminate. The effect of hole diameter on strength was described satisfactorily using an average biaxial-stress criterion. Good correlation was also obtained with theoretical predictions based on a tensor-polynomial failure criterion for the lamina and a progressive degradation model.     

Strain and failure analysis of graphite/epoxy plates with cracks

The objective of this investigation was to study the deformation and failure of uniaxially loaded graphite/epoxy plates with cracks and to determine the influence of notch size on failure. The specimens were quasi-isotropic laminates with cracks of various lengths. They were instrumented with strain gages, photoelastic coatings and moiré grids. Strains near the crack tip show two distinct points of rate change at strain levels of 0.002 and 0.006, the latter corresponding to the ultimate strain of the 90-deg plies. Failure near the crack tip takes the form of a damage zone consisting of ply subcracking along fibers, local delamination and fiber breakage. Failure occurs when this damage zone reaches some critical value. Measured maximum strains at failure exceeded twice the ultimate strain of the unnotched laminate. The average stress over a characteristic distance (5 mm) from the crack tip was used as a criterion to describe the influence of crack length on failure. Comparison of results with those from similar specimens with circular holes showed that strength was nearly independent of notch geometry in this case, i.e., specimens with holes and cracks of the same size had nearly the same strength.     

Experimental and analytical characterization of multidimensionally braided graphite/epoxy composites

This paper presents results of an investigation of a novel, through-the-thickness fiber-reinforced composite material. The generic name for this composite technology is multidimensional (X-D) braiding. X-D braided composites consist of a net-shaped, densely braided fiber skeleton which is rigidized with a structural epoxy-resin system. This material is an alternative to the conventional laminated composite and has the potential for being more resistant to delamination and matrix cracking. This paper describes results of the mechanical characterization of one graphite fiber system which was braided into panels in which two braid parameters could be investigated. The variables investigated included the effect of edge condition and braid pattern on the tensile, compressive and flexural properties of the braided panels. These properties were obtained in the braid direction only. The cutting of the specimen edges substantially reduced both tensile and flexural strengths and moduli. Of the three braid patterns investigated, 1×1, 3×1, and 1×1×1/2 F, the 3×1 braid pattern showed superior tensile performance, while the 1×1×1/2 F braid pattern exhibited superior flexural properties. The development of an analytical method for modeling the tensile performance of the multidimensionally (X-D) braided composite is also presented. The fiber geometry in X-D braids was modeled based on the braid parameters used in the construction of these composites. By the nature of the symmetry of the resulting braided structure, an analytical model based on classical lamination theory was used to determine the extensional stiffness in the three principal geometric directions of a braided composite. These analytical results are shown to compare favorably with those obtained experimentally. Finally, to further validate the ability of this material to contain damage, multidimensionally braided and conventionally laminated panels were impacted and the resulting damage was nondestructively determined. The multidimensionally braided material was shown to reduce the area of damage caused by impact by a factor of three for the energy levels tested.     

Post-buckling behaviour of graphite/epoxy stiffened panels with initial imperfections subjected to eccentric biaxial compression loading

The post-buckling behaviour of anisotropic stiffened panels with initial imperfections is investigated. Since buckling of the skin between the stiffeners often occurs first, a non-linear analysis is developed for symmetric panels under biaxial compression in order to obtain the out-of-plane panel deflection in the post-buckling range. The non-linear differential equations are expressed in terms of the out-of-plane displacement and the Airy function. They are solved with the Galerkin method for various boundary conditions by imposing an edge displacement control. The theoretical and experimental results obtained by the present analysis show that the transverse load can greatly influence the buckling loads and halfwave number. Since no experimental results have been found in the literature, several tests have been carried out on graphite/epoxy blade stiffened panels 900 mm long and 620 mm wide applying simultaneously biaxial compression loads with several combined ratios. An eccentricity results between longitudinal and transverse load, because the longitudinal compression is applied along the centroidal axes of the stiffened section while the transverse compression is applied to the skin panel. The correlation between the experimental and analytical results has been quite good; the experimental results demonstrate the influence of eccentricity of the transverse load on panel deflection in the pre- and post-buckling range.     

Kevlar/环氧树脂层合材料的动静态力学性能及本构关系

利用MTS和SHPB装置开展了Kevlar / 环氧树脂层合材料动静态力学性能实验研究,详细讨论了应变率和纤维铺设方式的不同所引起的材料力学行为的差异。根据实验结果提出了一种经验型本构模型,该模型不仅考虑了材料的应变率硬化、损伤软化效应,还通过增强系数的引入描述了纤维铺设方式对材料力学性能的影响。     

Analytical method for prediction of the strength of composite laminates

This work was done with the financial support of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Project Code 93-013-16747).     

On the use of interaction tensors to describe and predict rod interactions in rod suspensions

Recently, Férec et al. (2009a) proposed a model for nondilute rod-like suspensions, where particle interactions are taking into account via a micromechanical approach. The derived governing equation used the well-known second- and fourth-order orientation tensors (a ₂ and a ₄ ) and novel second- and fourth-order interaction tensors (b ₂ and b ₄ ). To completely close the model, it is necessary to express a ₄ , b ₂ , and b ₄ in terms of a ₂ . This paper gives the general framework to elaborate these new relations. Firstly, approximations for b ₂ are developed based on linear combinations of a ₂ and a ₄ . Moreover, a new closure approximation is also derived for b ₄ , based on the orthotropic fitted closure approach. Unknown parameters are determined by a least-square fitting technique with assumed exact solutions constructed from the probability distribution function (PDF). As numerical solutions for the PDF are difficult to obtain given the nonlinearity of the problem, a combination of steady state solutions is used to generate PDF designed to cover uniformly the entire domain of possible orientations. All these proposed approximations are tested against the particle-based simulations in a variety of flow fields. Improvements of the different approximations are observed, and the couple iORW-CO4P3 gives efficient results.     

Biaxial testing of [O2/±45] s graphite/epoxy plates with holes

An experimental investigation was conducted to study the behavior under biaxial-tensile loading of [O₂/±45] _s graphite/epoxy plates with circular holes and to determine the influence of hole diameter on failure. The specimens were 40-cm×40-cm (16-in.×16-in.) graphite/epoxy plates of [O₂/±45] _s layup. Four hole diameters, 2.54 cm (1.00 in.), 1.91 cm (0.75 in.), 1.27 cm (0.50 in.) and 0.64 cm (0.25 in.), were investigated. Deformations and strains were measured using strain gages and birefringent coatings. Biaxial tension in a 2∶1 ratio was applied by means of four whiffle-tree grip linkages and controlled with a servohydraulic system. Stress and strain redistributions occur around the hole at a stress level corresponding to localized failure around the 67.5-deg location and nonlinear strain response at the 0-deg location. Maximum measured strains at failure on the hole boundary are higher (approximately 0.016) than the highest ultimate strain of the unnotched laminate (0.010). Two basic patterns of failure were observed: (a) horizontal cracking initiating at points off the horizontal axis and accompanied by extensive delamination of the subsurface ±45 deg plies, and (b) vertical cracking along vertical tangents to the hole and accompanied by delamination of the outer 0-deg plies. The strength reduction ratios are lower than corresponding values for uniaxial loading by approximately 16 percent, although the stress-concentration factor under biaxial loading is lower.     

On the use of sensitivity analysis in model reduction to predict flows for varying inflow conditions

The proper orthogonal decomposition (POD)‐based model reduction method is more and more successfully used in fluid flows. However, the main drawback of this methodology rests in the robustness of these reduced order models (ROMs) beyond the reference at which POD modes have been derived. Any variation in the flow or shape parameters within the ROM fails to predict the correct dynamics of the flow field. To broaden the spectrum of these models, the POD modes should have the global characteristics of the flow field over which the predictions are required. Mixing of snapshots with varying parameters is one way to improve the global nature of the modes but is computationally demanding because it requires full‐order solutions for a number of parameter values in order to assemble atextitrich enough database on which to perform POD. Instead, we have used sensitivity analysis (SA) to include the flow and shape parameters influence during the basis selection process to develop more robust ROMs for varying viscosity (Reynolds number), changing orientation and shape definition of bodies. This study aims at extending these ideas to inflow conditions to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach in capturing the effect of varying inflow on the dynamics of the flow over an elliptic cylinder. Numerical experiments show that the newly derived models allow for a more accurate representation of the flows when exploring the parameter space. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.