Flexural properties of sandwich composite panels with glass laminate aluminum reinforced epoxy facesheets strengthened by SMA wires

Sandwich composite panels are widely used and significant in structural applications such as aerospace, shipbuilding and transportation, etc. This is due to their specific properties such as specific stiffness, strength and energy absorption. Still, many innovations are required to develop and upgrade their mechanical properties in various loadings and conditions, specifically in bending loads. One of the methods to enhance the properties of sandwich structures is to employ various advanced materials in these structures to change their acquired properties. In the present research work, sandwich composite panels made by fiber metal laminate like glass laminate aluminum reinforced epoxy (GLARE) as the facesheets and PVC polymer foam as the core material are investigated in flexural (bending) loading condition. To change or enhance the behaviour of sandwich panel in bending loads, shape memory alloy wires are also embedded in between glass fiber reinforced epoxy composite layers in fiber metal laminate facesheets. The shape memory wires are also pre-strained in fiber reinforced epoxy composite in sandwich panels. To study the flexural properties of sandwich panels with fiber metal laminate facesheets, the effect of shape memory alloy wires and also the effect of pre-straining of the wires, three types of sandwich panels are considered and made including panels without shape memory alloy wire, two wires with 0% tensile pre-strain, and two wires with 5% tensile pre-strain for the same cross section. Due to the importance of bending properties in structural applications, the sandwich composite specimens are subjected to flexural test according to ASTM standards. The maximum of 13% increase in maximum bending load and 84% increase in breaking load for the specimens with 0% pre-strained wires are achieved. Also, the maximum displacement and the energy absorption for the specimen with 5% pre-strain was enhanced by 26.5% and 37%, respectively. The energy absorption during the flexural test is greater in case of the specimen with pre-strained wires. Moreover, the specimens with pre-strained wires show better integrity of the structure after the failure in bending. The results represent the advantage effect of shape memory alloy wires on sandwich composite panel's behaviour in bending.     

On the role of TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanoparticles on thermal behavior of flexible polyurethane foam sandwich panels

A series of flexible polyurethane foam (FPUF) and monolithic polyurethane (PU) sandwich panels reinforced with different contents of TiO₂ nanoparticles (0, 0.5 and 1 mass%) have been successfully prepared by compression molding process at room temperature. The influence of TiO₂ nanoparticles on the thermal properties of PU matrix has been investigated by thermogravimetric and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). The morphology of porous structure of FPUF sandwich panels has been characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The presence of TiO₂ nanoparticles as reinforcement has improved the thermal properties of the FPUF and PU sandwich panel samples. It has been observed that FPUF and PU sandwich panel reinforced with 1 mass% of TiO₂ nanoparticles possessed the highest enhancement in thermal properties in all accomplished thermal tests. The DMTA results for the FPUF and PU sandwich panel reinforced with 1 mass% of TiO₂ nanoparticles indicated that the storage modulus and loss modulus have increased about 1.22 and 1.25 times, 1.5 and 1.55 times, respectively, compared to pure samples. Furthermore, the glass transition (T _g) obtained from the damping factor (tanδ) curves has increased 2 and 1 °C for FPUF and PU sandwich panels, respectively.     

Quasi- static indentation properties of damaged glass/epoxy composite laminates repaired by the application of intra-ply hybrid patches

The main objective of this paper is to investigate the effect of intra-ply hybrid patches based on glass and Kevlar woven fabrics on the local bending response of adhesive bonded external patch repairs in damaged glass/epoxy composite laminates. In intra ply hybrid patches glass and Kevlar fibre reinforcements are combined in the same layer. The intention, in using these hybrid patches, is to combine the excellent mechanical properties of glass fiber as a brittle reinforcement with the superior high elongation to failure property of Kevlar fiber as a ductile reinforcement. Five different kinds of plain weave woven fabrics with different ratios between glass and Kevlar fibers (100/0, 75/25, 50/50, 25/75 and 0/100) were used as the external patches. The undamaged virgin specimens were taken as a reference for the comparison of residual mechanical properties. Multiple quasi-static indentation tests were carried out on repaired glass/epoxy specimens, and their ultimate indentation load, stiffness and permanent deformation were estimated. Failure mechanisms of repaired glass/epoxy specimens under indentation loads were investigated using online Acoustic Emission (AE) monitoring technique. The indentation loads required for the occurrence of various failure modes were measured to illustrate the chronology of progression of different damage modes with increasing load and the kinetics of the various damage modes individually defined in real time. The use of different hybrid patches had a significant effect on the local bending response of the repaired glass/epoxy specimens. In practice, specimens repaired with patches including equal volume fraction of glass and Kevlar fibers presented a more favorable indentation response than virgin ones and other repaired specimens by exhibiting balanced mechanical properties (i.e., high deflection to ultimate failure associated with superior patch-parent laminate bond strength).     

A novel method for manufacturing of aluminum foam sandwich panels

In this study, a novel method for manufacturing aluminum foam sandwich (AFS) panels via self‐propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS) has been introduced and investigated. In this method, a powder mixture of metallic aluminum and copper oxide was placed in core–sheet interface. Sandwich panel was then heated under static pressure. During heating, SHS reaction (3CuO + 2Al = Al₂O₃ + 3Cu, ΔH < 0) occurred in the interface. The generated heat from this exothermic reaction caused sheets to join the core by melting the interface and nearby. In order to evaluate the shear strength of the interface, the shear test was applied on manufactured sandwich panels, and its results were compared with those obtained from testing the sandwich panels which were produced by diffusion bonding process. Furthermore, by the aid of energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analyses, the formation of copper in the core–sheet interface and its diffusion into the sheets and the core were investigated. In addition, by plotting the hardness values of the panels' sheets across distance, it was found that the generated heat of the exothermic reaction caused a local melting of the panel sheets and the core. These results approved that core to sheet joining in metal foam sandwich panels took place because of the SHS reaction. Significantly, this new method could be applied as a proper and alternative method for production of AFS panels. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Infrared thermographic evaluation of large composite grid parts subjected to axial loading

Many composite parts, such as laminated panels and grid-like shells, operate under high mechanical loading. Evaluation of their structural integrity is crucial to ensure the long-lasting operation of critical components. Since testing a structure under full or “proof” load might be dangerous for personnel, it would be preferable to use a remote, rapid inspection technique. This paper describes a practical application of IR thermography to the inspection of large composite parts used in the aerospace industry. This work has used just one cycle of increasing load from zero load to failure, and this was done for both for tensile and compressive loads. It is shown that, during the formation of micro-defects in polymeric composites, about 40 % of the total dissipated energy is expended for material heating, while about 60 % is related to material damage accompanied by an increase in the defect concentration. Non-uniform composite deformation causes temperature anomalies, whose amplitude may reach 1.5–2.5 °C at a load of about 50–60 % of the limit load.     

Experimental investigation of thermal properties and fire behavior of carbon/epoxy laminate and its foam core sandwich composite

According to structural characteristics, composites are classified as laminated structure and sandwich structure. Carbon/epoxy laminate and foam core sandwich composite are the most commonly used laminate and sandwich structure material in the aircraft industry. The flammability of epoxy resins and foam core material is an inherent hazard. Many previous studies focused primarily on their mechanical properties, while the studies on the thermal and fire properties of carbon/epoxy laminate and its foam core sandwich composite have rarely conducted. Therefore, to characterize their thermal and fire properties, a comprehensive experimental investigation and theoretical analysis were carried out in this work using thermogravimetric analysis, cone calorimeter, vertical/horizontal burning tests, limiting oxygen index and scanning electron microscope tests. Several typical characteristic parameters were obtained and analyzed, such as pyrolysis temperature, heat release rate, mass loss, flaming spread rate and limiting oxygen index. These experimental data coupled with theoretical analysis can provide support for fire risk assessment and fire protection design in aircrafts. The carbon/epoxy laminate and foam core sandwich composite are both characterized as the thermally thick materials. The ignition models and mass loss rate models were obtained. Foam core material negatively affects most of the thermal and fire properties of sandwich composite, but the foam core sandwich composite has self-extinguishing behavior during horizontal burning tests, whose LOI is higher than that of carbon/epoxy laminate. Thus, an important conclusion was reached that the ignition position and flame spread direction have critical effect on the fire behavior of foam core material.

     

An experimental investigation on the low‐velocity impact behavior of 3D five‐directional braided composites

This paper presents an experimental study on the low‐velocity impact performance of 3D carbon/epoxy braided composite panels with different braiding parameters, which have the similar fiber volume fraction but different braiding angles (15°, 25°, and 35°). The low‐velocity impact tests were conducted at three different energy levels of 15, 30, and 45 J. Impact response of the panels was recorded and analyzed in terms of peak load, absorbed energy, time, and deflection at peak load. The images of damage samples taken from impacted sides and non‐impacted sides were evaluated for the damage area and failure patterns. Through analysis, they discovered that samples with bigger braiding angle sustained higher peak loads; moreover, the fiber was arranged more closely, and the shock resistance improved as the braiding angle is increasing. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fatigue Behavior of Composite Sandwich Panels Under Three Point Bending Load

In this paper, the bending fatigue tests of honeycomb sandwich panels are carried out by using an improved three-point bending test fixture, and the S-N curves at different stress ratios are obtained. Through the records of fatigue damage in the experiment, the failure mode of the honeycomb sandwich panels and the source of fatigue damage are determined. At the same time, through the calculation of the shear stress distribution on the honeycomb wall, the reasons for the difference in the failure morphology of the L-direction and W-direction sandwich panels are clarified. Besides, a life prediction method is proposed and its effectiveness in predicting the fatigue life of sandwich panels has been verified.     

Analysis of Solvent Effect on Mechanical Properties of Poly(ether ether ketone) Using Nano-indentation

Poly (ether ether ketone)(PEEK) is a high-performance semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymer.Exposure of the polymeric surface to solvents can have a strong effect like softening/swelling of polymeric network or dissolution.In this study, nano-indentation analysis was performed to study the effect of acetone on the surface mechanical properties of PEEK using different exposure time.The experiments were performed with a constant loading rate (10 nm/s) to a maximum indentation displacement (1000 nm).A 30-second hold segment was included at the maximum load to account for any creep effects followed by an unloading segment to 80% unloading.The indentation hardness and the elastic modulus were computed as a continuous function of the penetration displacement in the continuous stiffness mode (CSM) indentation.The experimental data showed that the peak load decreased from ~5.2 mN to ~1.7 mN as exposure time in solvent environment increased from 0 to 18 days.The elastic modulus and the hardness of PEEK samples also displayed a decreasing trend as a function of exposure time in the solvent environment.Two empirical models were used to fit the experimental data of hardness as a function of exposure time which showed a good agreement with the experimental values.     

Crystallization kinetics of tellurium-rich Se–Te–Sn glassy alloys

The objective of this study was to explore an innovative type of form-stable phase-change materials (PCMs) with flexible cellulose acetate (CA) nano-fibrous felts (nano-felts) absorbed with capric–myristic–stearic acid ternary eutectic mixture for thermal energy storage/retrieval. Capric–myristic–stearic acid (CMS) ternary eutectic mixture as model PCM was firstly prepared. The developed CA nano-felts as supporting material was mechanically flexible and was made from CA/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) precursor composite nanofibers followed by removal of PVP components. The effects of original mass ratio of CA/PVP on absorption capacities of CA nano-felts were studied. The modified CA nano-felts with groove/porous structure and rough surfaces were capable of absorbing a large amount of PCMs. The morphological structures, as well as the properties of thermal energy storage, thermal stability and reliability, and thermal insulation of composite PCMs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermal performance measurement, respectively. The results showed that CMS eutectic was absorbed in and/or supported by modified CA nano-felts. The heat enthalpy values of composite PCMs have slightly decreased in comparison with the corresponding theoretical values. The composite PCMs demonstrated good thermal stability and reliability after thermal cycles. The composite PCMs had high thermal insulation capability for temperature regulation.     

Study on the variation of morphology and separation behavior of the stainless steel supported membranes at high temperature

Palladium composite membranes were prepared on stainless steel (SUS) supports modified by nickel submicron powder and colloidal silica sols. Permeation tests of the palladium composite membranes were carried out at high temperature in order to observe the thermal stability of the membrane. The palladium composite membrane failed with formation of plenty of pinholes in the presence of hydrogen at high temperature. The failure of the composite membrane was verified by comparing the nitrogen permeance before hydrogen permeation test with that after hydrogen permeation test and comparing the H₂/N₂ selectivity for single gas permeation test with that for mixture gas permeation test. The variation of the membrane surface due to the failure of the membrane was characterized in scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) analyses. As a result, it can be concluded that reducible metal oxides can be attributed to the failure of the composite membranes resulting from reduction of the metal oxides by hydrogen whichever position in the membrane the metal oxides are layered.     

Comparative study of the quasi-static energy absorption of small-scale composite tubes with different geometrical shapes for use in sacrificial cladding structures

This paper focuses on the quasi-static crushing characteristics and the corresponding energy absorption of nine different shapes of small-scale composite tubes. The idea is to choose suitable cross sections and geometrical shapes of the composite tubes which can yield progressive deformation and higher energy absorption; the finalized geometrical shapes will be studied further for the inner core of a sacrificial cladding structure against blast loading. All the composite tubes have been manufactured by a hand lay-up technique using E-glass fabric and polyester resin. Quasi-static axial crushing tests have been conducted to understand the deformation patterns and the corresponding load-deformation characteristics of each composite tube. The effect of dimensions (thickness to diameter ratio) on the specific energy absorption of each composite tube was studied. Finally, the quasi-static test parameters such as the peak crush load, mean crush load and the specific energy absorption of all these composite tubes were compared. From this unique study, it was found that the specific energy absorption of special geometrical shapes (hourglass type – A, hourglass type – B, conical circular type – X and conical circular type – Y) of the composite tubes is significantly higher than that of the standard and uniform profiles such as the square and the hexagonal cross sections.     

Polydopamine-coated metal-organic framework-based composite phase change materials for photothermal conversion and storage

The liquid leakage and weak solar absorption capacity of organic phase change materials (PCMs) seriously hinder the efficient utilization of solar energy and thermal energy storage. To address these issues, we prepared nanoporous metal organic framework (Ni-MOF) for the vacuum infiltration of paraffin wax (PW), followed by the coating of solar-absorbing functional polydopamine (PDA) on the surface of PW@MOF for photothermal conversion and storage. As an efficient photon harvester, PDA coating endows PW@MOF/PDA composite PCMs with excellent photothermal conversion and storage properties due to the robust broadband solar absorption capability in the UV–vis region. Resultantly, our prepared PW@MOF/PDA composite PCMs exhibit a high photothermal conversion and storage efficiency of 91.2%, while that of PW@MOF composite PCMs is only zero. In addition, PW@MOF/PDA composite PCMs also exhibit excellent thermal stability, shape stability, energy storage stability, and photothermal conversion stability. More importantly, this coating strategy is universal by integrating different MOFs and solar absorbers, showing the potential to accelerate the major breakthroughs of high-efficiency MOF-based photothermal composite PCMs in solar energy utilization.     

具有双交联网络结构的纳米复合材料的制备及介电性能

利用官能团反应活化能的差异, 通过控制反应温度和时间制备了一种具有双交联网络结构的钛酸钡/聚芳醚酮纳米复合膜(BT-BCB/c-DPAEK). 对比研究纯聚合物薄膜及未经交联处理和仅进行单交联处理的复合薄膜发现, BT-BCB/c-DPAEK具有更加优异的力学性能和热性能, 并且其介电性能表现出良好的频率稳定性和温度稳定性. 由于双交联网络对于复合材料两相间界面的改善及高温下对聚合物分子链运动的限制, BT-BCB/c-DPAEK表现出十分优异的储能性能, 特别是在150 ℃, 300 MV/m场强下依然保持1.75 J/cm³的储能密度和80%的放电效率.     

The effect of moisture absorption on the thermomechanical properties of particulates

Water absorption in particulate composites at ambient temperature influences their thermomechanical properties. Second Fick's law of diffusion was used in this paper to predict the diffusion coefficient of the composite materials tested. In all cases the matrix material was a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A polymer cured with 8 phr triethylene tetramine and filled with iron particles with an average diameter 150 μm at five distinct volume fractionsv _f =0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.16 and 0.20. The modification of the modulus of elasticity, ultimate stress, breaking strain and breaking energy due to moisture absorption was examined. Moreover, differential scanning calorimetry was used to study the influence of the time exposure into water and the filler concentration of the particulates on their glass transition temperature. Finally, the void occupancy in the composite was evaluated from free volume considerations.     

Structural performance of 3D-printed composites under various loads and environmental conditions

Sandwich-structured composites are in high demand in various industries, and additive manufacturing has proven its ability to meet this demand. As a result of the advances in three-dimensional (3D) printing techniques, 3D-printed polymers have received considerable attention in fabrication of sandwich structures with complex geometries. This paper is concerned with design, manufacturing, and analysis of the 3D-printed sandwich-structured components which experienced various loadings and environmental conditions. The core structure plays a major role in the in-plane behavior of lattice composites, therefore in this study, sandwich specimens with two types of core topologies made of two common and similar 3D printing filaments, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA), were manufactured. Based on the applications of sandwich-structured parts, they might experience different temperatures in their service life. In order to determine effects of thermal environment, we conducted accelerated thermal aging within temperatures of 22-60 $°\mathrm{C}$, which is below glass temperature of the examined materials. Based on a series of three-point bending tests, the failure behavior of the original and aged components are determined, and the effects of temperature change on the bending behavior of 3D-printed sandwich parts are discussed. The experimental practice revealed that ASA with honeycomb core specimens indicated highest stability under bending load after thermal aging. The current study sheds lights on durability of 3D-printed sandwich structural elements, and the obtained results demonstrate feasibility of 3D printing technology in fabrication of thermal-stable sandwich structures.     

Co/C微波吸收性能及Co/C-聚氨酯相变复合材料的微波-热转换性能

通过热解金属有机骨架ZIF-67的方法成功制备了具有优异微波吸收性能的Co/C碳基复合材料。 在600 ℃热解温度下获得的吸收剂质量分数为35% 的样品,最小反射损耗可达到-54.30 dB,其厚度仅为1.75 mm。 通过分析样品的损耗能力和阻抗匹配等微波吸收特性,发现复合材料中的骨架结构等对其阻抗匹配性能有非常大的影响。 并通过原位复合的方法制备了分散均匀的Co/C-PU相变复合材料,初步研究了其微波-热转换性能。 实验表明,微波吸收剂的添加量对其微波-热转换性能影响显著,发热效率随添加量成倍升高。 本文研究的Co/C-PU相变复合材料在电磁屏蔽、雷达红外兼容隐身等方面具有很大的应用潜力。 此外,固固相变材料结合微波热效应的快速高效等特点,用于储能或者其他热应用也有独特的优势。     

Fire hazard assessment on polyurethane sandwich panels for temporary accommodation units

Fire hazard assessment on sandwich panels used for constructing temporary accommodation units (TAUs) is discussed. The requirements imposed by the three responsible local government departments, i.e. Buildings Department, Fire Services Department and Labour Department, are outlined. A typical sandwich panel used for constructing TAUs was assessed by a cone calorimeter. Four radiative heat fluxes of 20, 25, 50 and 65 kW m⁻² were applied to study the sustained ignition time, peak heat release rate, average heat release rates in 60 and 180 s after ignition, total heat release rate, mass loss percentage, total smoke release, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide yields. From these data, the possibilities of flashover and smoke aspects were studied. Preliminary recommendations on what should be considered in specifying fire tests for new regulations on the use of these sandwich panels are made.     

Instrumented Macroindentation Techniques for Polymers and Composites – Mechanical Properties,Fracture Toughness and Time-Dependent Behaviour as a Function of the Temperature

An innovative cooling and heating device has been successfully applied to an instrumented macrohardness testing machine in close collaboration with the company Zwick/Roell. The prototype allows the local time-dependent analysis of mechanical properties such as Martens hardness and indentation modulus, as well as fracture toughness and creep and relaxation behaviour at temperatures ranging from −100 °C to +100 °C. On the basis of load–indentation depth, load–time or indentation depth–time diagrams, the indentation behaviour as a function of test speed and/or temperature (which has rarely been done for polymers in the macro-range of loading) depending on matrix and materials composition (amorphous/semicrystalline thermoplastics, epoxy resins, micro- and nanocomposites) has been analysed. Martens-hardness, indentation modulus on the one hand and creep compliance and relaxation modulus on the other have been found to be strongly temperature dependent. Adequate methods of indentation fracture mechanics have been enhanced for polymers and applied to determine the fracture toughness of very different polymer-based materials.     

Spatiotemporal Utilization of Latent Heat in Erythritol-based Phase Change Materials as Solar Thermal Fuels

Solar thermal fuels (STFs) have been particularly concerned as sustainable future energy due to their impressive ability to store solar energy in chemical bonds and controllably release thermal energy. However, currently studied STFs mainly focus on molecule-based materials with high photochemical activity, toxicity, and compromised features, which greatly restricts their applications in practical scenarios of solar energy utilization. Herein, we present a novel erythritol-based composite phase change material (PCM) as a new type of STFs with an outstanding capability to store solar energy as latent heat in its stable supercooling state and release thermal energy as needed. This composite PCM with stored thermal energy can be maintained stably at room temperature and subsequently release latent heat as high as 224.9 J/g during the crystallization process triggered by thermal stimuli. Remarkably, solar energy can be converted into latent heat stored in the composite PCM over months. Through mechanical stimulations, the released latent heat can increase the temperature of the composite up to 91 °C. This work presents a new concept of using spatiotemporal storage and release of latent heat in PCMs for solar energy utilization, making it a potential candidate as STFs for developing future clean energy techniques.