Mechanics of advanced fiber reinforced lattice composites

Fiber reinforced lattice composites are lightweight attractive due to their high specific strength and specific stiffness.In the past 10 years,researchers developed three-dimensional（3D） lattice trusses and two-dimensional （2D） lattice grids by various methods including interlacing, weaving,interlocking,filament winding and molding hot- press.The lattice composites have been applied in the fields of radar cross-section reduction,explosive absorption and heat-resistance. In this paper,topologies of the lattice composites, their manufacturing routes,as well as their mechanical and multifunctional applications,were surveyed.     

Modelling of fibre pull-out in cracked fibre reinforced composites with linear elastic fracture mechanics

A method of finite element modelling the fracture mechanics of a fibre reinforced cement composite is presented. It embodies the use of beam elements with negative extensional stiffness. The method compares favourably with experimental work. Whilst fibre reinforced cement composites are used in this work, the techniques used are applicable to any type of fibre composite material.     

Homogenization of long fiber reinforced composites including fiber bending effects

This paper presents a homogenization method, which accounts for intrinsic size effects related to the fiber diameter in long fiber reinforced composite materials with two independent constitutive models for the matrix and fiber materials. A new choice of internal kinematic variables allows to maintain the kinematics of the two material phases independent from the assumed constitutive models, so that stress–deformation relationships, can be expressed in the framework of hyper-elasticity and hyper-elastoplasticity for the fiber and the matrix materials respectively. The bending stiffness of the reinforcing fibers is captured by higher order strain terms, resulting in an accurate representation of the micro-mechanical behavior of the composite. Numerical examples show that the accuracy of the proposed model is very close to a non-homogenized finite-element model with an explicit discretization of the matrix and the fibers.     

Intermittency and multiscale dynamics in milling of fiber reinforced composites

We have analyzed the variations in cutting force during milling of a fiber-reinforced composite material. In particular, we have investigated the multiscale dynamics of the cutting force measured at different spindle speeds using multifractals and wavelets. The multifractal analysis revealed the changes in complexity with varying spindle speeds. The wavelet analysis identified the coexistence of important periodicities related to the natural frequency of the system and its multiple harmonics. Their nonlinear superposition leads to the specific intermittent behavior. The workpiece used in the experiment was prepared from an epoxy-polymer matrix composite reinforced by carbon fibers.     

Spall strength of glass fiber reinforced polymer composites

In the present paper results of a series of plate impact experiments designed to study spall strength in glass–fiber reinforced polymer composites (GRP) are presented. Two GRP architectures are investigated—S2 glass woven roving in Cycom 4102 polyester resin matrix and a balanced 5-harness satin weave E-glass in a Ciba epoxy (LY564) matrix. The GRP specimens were shock loaded using an 82.5 mm bore single-stage gas-gun. A velocity interferometer was used to measure the particle velocity profile at the rear (free) surface of the target plate. The spall strength of the GRP was obtained as a function of the normal component of the impact stress and the applied shear-strain by subjecting the GRP specimens to normal shock compression and combined shock compression and shear loading, respectively. The spall strengths of the two GRP composites were observed to decrease with increasing levels of normal shock compression. Moreover, superposition of shear-strain on the normal shock compression was found to be highly detrimental to the spall strength. The E-glass reinforced GRP composite was found to have a much higher level of spall strength under both normal shock compression and combined compression and shear loading when compared to the S2-glass GRP composite. The maximum spall strength of the E-glass GRP composite was found to be 119.5 MPa, while the maximum spall strength for the S2 glass GRP composite was only 53.7 MPa. These relatively low spall strength levels of the S2-glass and the E-glass fiber reinforced composites have important implications to the design and development of GRP-based light-weight integral armor.     

Debonding failure and size effects in micro-reinforced composites

Failure in micro-reinforced composites is investigated numerically using the strain-gradient plasticity theory of Gudmundson [Gudmundson, P., 2004. A unified treatment of strain gradient plasticity. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids 52 (6) 1379–1406] in a plane strain visco-plastic formulation. Bi-axially loaded unit cells are used and failure is modeled using a cohesive zone at the reinforcement interface. During debonding a sudden stress drop in the overall average stress–strain response is observed. Adaptive higher-order boundary conditions are imposed at the reinforcement interface for realistically modeling the restrictions on moving dislocations as debonding occurs. It is found that the influence of the imposed higher-order boundary conditions at the interface is minor. If strain-gradient effects are accounted for a void with a smooth shape develops at the reinforcement interface while a smaller void having a sharp tip nucleates if strain-gradient effects are excluded. Using orthogonalization of the plastic strain gradient with three corresponding material length scales it is found that, the first length scale dominates the evaluated overall average stress–strain response, the second one only has a small effect and the third one has an intermediate effect. Finally, studies of reinforcement having elliptical cross-sections show rather significant gradients of stress which is not seen for the corresponding circular cross-sections. Also, an increased drop in the overall load carrying capacity is observed for cross-sections elongated perpendicular to the principal tensile direction compared to the corresponding circular cross-sections.     

Analysis of temperature and impact damage of fiber reinforced composites

Fracture resistance of fiber reinforced composites with polymer matrix is examined owing to impact loading and heat treatment over a wide range of temperatures. Test data are presented for the nonhomogeneous peeling behavior of layered composite specimen damaged by impact. Analytical results are also given for the peeling growth rate under the action of edge peel off and transverse shear.     

纤维增强陶瓷基复合材料的D失效判据

经典唯象强度理论适用于正交各向异性线弹性体.对于非线性纤维增强复合材料,通过加卸载试验和损伤力学的分析方法,可以得到一种虚拟的线性化应力-应变关系;依据损伤等效假设,针对线性损伤和非线性损伤,对基于应力的经典二次失效准则进行变换,建立了一种基于损伤的强度理论,即"D失效判据",这一强度理论可以作为经典判据的补充和扩展.针对平纹编织C/SiC复合材料的拉/剪组合试验,进行了实例计算,结果表明:利用D失效判据预测的失效包络线比蔡-希尔准则的预测曲线低,而且,失效曲线的形式与材料的损伤演化规律相关.     

Numerical analysis of interface fatigue of fiber reinforced composites

A numerical analysis of the interface debonding process is carried out for fiber–matrix composites under cyclic loading. The results show that the interface friction plays an important role in resisting debonding under fatigue. The degradation coefficient of interface friction influences the debonding velocity. An approximate formula of interface friction is found for fatigue debonding.     

Modeling oxidation damage of continuous fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composites

For fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composites(CMCs),oxidation of the constituents is a very important damage type for high temperature applications. During the oxidizing process,the pyrolytic carbon interphase gradually recesses from the crack site in the axial direction of the fiber into the interior of the material. Carbon fiber usually presents notch-like or local neck-shrink oxidation phenomenon,causing strength degradation. But,the reason for SiC fiber degradation is the aw growth mechanism on its surface. A micromechanical model based on the above mechanisms was established to simulate the mechanical properties of CMCs after high temperature oxidation. The statistic and shearlag theory were applied and the calculation expressions for retained tensile modulus and strength were deduced,respectively. Meanwhile,the interphase recession and fiber strength degradation were considered. And then,the model was validated by application to a C/SiC composite.     

Analysis on interface damage of fiber reinforced composites under cyclic load

Based on the shear-lag model, the interface damage of fiber reinforced composites near a matrix crack under cyclic load is analyzed. The governing equations for load and unload processes are derived and solved. The effective debond stress and the debond velocity are then obtained. Furthermore, the degradation of friction stress on the interface caused by slipping is taken into account. Results are given for the degradation behavior and the steady state of debonding.     

Smart damping of laminated thin cylindrical panels using piezoelectric fiber reinforced composites

In this paper performance of a new piezoelectric fiber reinforced composite (PFRC) material has been investigated for active constrained layer damping (ACLD) of laminated thin simply supported composite cylindrical panels. The constraining layer of the ACLD treatment has been considered to be made of this PFRC material. A finite element model of smart composite panels integrated with the patches of such ACLD treatment has been developed to demonstrate the performance of these patches on enhancing the damping characteristics of thin cross-ply and angle-ply laminated composite cylindrical panels. Particular emphasis has been placed on studying the effect of variation of the piezoelectric fiber orientation in the constraining PFRC layer and the shallowness angle of the panels on the control authority of the patches.     

An experimental study of dynamic delamination of thick fiber reinforced polymeric matrix composites

Dynamic delamination of thick fiber reinforced polymeric matrix composite laminates is investigated using optical techniques and high-speed photography. The laminates used in this work are graphite/epoxy fiber reinforced, 65 percent fiber volume fraction, composite plates consisting of 48 plies (6 mm plate thickness). Two different laminate layups are tested: a quasi-isotropic arrangement and a unidirectional arrangement. The experimental setup consists of 152 mm×152 mm square plates impact loaded in an outof-plane configuration using a high-speed gas gun. Impact speeds range from 1 m/s to 30 m/s. Real-time imaging of the laminate out-of-pane displacement is performed using the lateral shearing interferometer of coherent gradient sensing (CGS) in conjunction with high-speed photography. Onset of dynamic delamination can be observed, and quantities such as delamination speeds (in some cases up to 1800 m/s) are measured and reported. A brief comparison is made with dynamic fracture experiments of the same material conducted in a separate study.     

A nonlinear constitutive model of unidirectional natural fiber reinforced composites considering moisture absorption

Moisture absorption in natural fiber reinforced composites causes remarkable degradation of mechanical properties. A nonlinear constitutive model is proposed to study the effect of the water uptake on the mechanical properties of unidirectional natural fiber reinforced composites. Accompanying the water absorption in the composites, there are several irreversible thermodynamic processes such as fiber degradation and interface damage. The energy dissipation induced by these processes is described by an internal variable, and two degradation parameters representing interface damage and fiber degradation are introduced to reflect the modulus reduction of the composite. Particularly, the model is used to derive the evolution of elastic moduli influenced by the moisture absorption. The predictions from the present model show a good agreement with experiment results of sisal fiber unidirectional reinforced composites.     

A periodic unit-cell simulation of fiber arrangement dependence on the transverse tensile failure in unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced composites

The effect of fiber arrangement on transverse tensile failure in unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced composites with a strong fiber-matrix interface was studied using a unit-cell model that includes a continuum damage mechanics model. The simulated results indicated that tensile strength is lower when neighboring fibers are arrayed parallel to the loading direction than with other fiber arrangements. A shear band occurs between neighboring fibers, and the damage in the matrix propagates around the shear band when the interfacial normal stress (INS) is sufficiently high. Moreover, based on the observation of Hobbiebrunken et al., we reproduced the damage process in actual composites with a nonuniform fiber arrangement. The simulated results clarified that the region where neighboring fibers are arrayed parallel to the loading direction becomes the origin of the transverse failure in the composites. The cracking sites observed in the simulation are consistent with experimental results. Therefore, the matrix damage in the region where the fiber is arrayed parallel to the loading direction is a key factor in understanding transverse failure in unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced composites with a strong fiber/matrix interface.     

Fatigue behavior of E-glass fiber reinforced phenolic composites: effect of temperature, mean stress and fiber surface treatment

Phenolic matrix is reinforced by unidirectional E-glass fibers with volume fractions of 0.30 and 0.45. Three different surface treatments are applied to the E-glass fibers. The composite specimens are tested at ambient condition and temperatures of 100°C 150° and 200°C with stress levels of R(σ_min/σ_max) equal to 0 and 0.4 for load frequencies of 1.5, 10 and 25 Hz. Data are presented in terms of S/N curves and assessed by degradation of modulus based on compliance. For a particular fiber glass surface treatment and volume fraction, the composite specimen is notched and tested at room temperature and 200°C. A fatigue strength reduction factor K_f is defined and obtained such that the results could be compared with those of the unnotched specimens. Notch effect is small if the hole diameter is equal to the specimen thickness; it would be important for larger hole sizes. Fractured surfaces are examined by the scanning electron microscope.     

Theoretical framework and experimental procedure for modelling mesoscopic volume fraction stochastic fluctuations in fiber reinforced composites

Many engineering materials exhibit fluctuations and uncertainties on their macroscopic mechanical properties. This randomness results from random fluctuations observed at a lower scale, especially at the meso-scale where microstructural uncertainties generally occur. In the present paper, we first propose a complete theoretical stochastic framework (that is, a relevant probabilistic model as well as a non-intrusive stochastic solver) in which the volume fraction at the microscale is modelled as a random field whose statistical reduction is performed using a Karhunen–Loeve expansion. Then, an experimental procedure dedicated to the identification of the parameters involved in the probabilistic model is presented and relies on a non-destructive ultrasonic method. The combination of the experimental results with a micromechanical analysis provides realizations of the volume fraction random field. In particular, it is shown that the volume fraction can be modelled by a homogeneous random field whose spatial correlation lengths are determined and may provide conditions on the size of the meso-volumes to be considered.     

Effects of interface contacts on the magneto electro-elastic coupling for fiber reinforced composites

Imperfect bonding between constituents is studied where displacements, electric and magnetic static potentials are considered to have a jump proportional to the normal component of the mechanical traction, electric displacement and magnetic flux. This condition may model various interface damages or the thin glue layer between two adjacent phases. They are termed as the mechanically compliant, dielectrically weakly capacitance and magnetically weakly inductance at the interface. It is shown that while the more imperfect the interface is, the overall properties become weaker, such as longitudinal shear stiffness, out-of-plane piezoelectric coupling, and magnetoelectric coupling. Out-of-plane piezomagnetic coupling, transverse dielectric permittivity and transverse dielectric permeability exhibit no influence by imperfect bonding. The imperfect interface proposed is mimicked by the springs, capacitors and inductances for the mechanical, electric and magnetic interaction between the phases and are highly sensitive to the interphase properties. The results are compared mainly with the self consistent model reported in the literature and good agreements are shown.