Effect of γ radiation on the structure and physicomechanical properties of polychloroprene and vulcanizates based on polychloroprene

Complex investigations over a wide range of temperatures have been carried out related to the changes in the structure and physicomechanical properties of a chloroprene rubber (Nairit NP) and vulcanizates which are based on this rubber which occur when these systems are subjected to γ radiation. It is demonstrated that irradiation with γ rays leads to the development of a structuring process (with irradiation doses of up to 4 MRad). The vulcanization of irradiated samples does not form any new cross-links. The cross-linking which takes place when the systems are irradiated with γ rays is weak, and hence the physicomechanical properties of irradiated vulcanizates are poorer.     

Dilatometric method of investigating the phase transitions of elastomers in the deformed state

A method is proposed for investigating crystallization and melting processes in vulcanizates in relation to the change of volume of specimens in the compressed or extended state. The method combines the advantages of dilatometry (accuracy of quantitative estimates) and mechanical methods (possibility of acceleration of crystallization associated with orientation of the macromolecules). The vulcanizates are tested under realistic conditions. Vulcanizates of NT Nairit and cis-1,4-polybutadiene have been tested by means of the method described; the crystallization kinetics are shown to depend on the degree of extension and compression of the specimens.Lebedev All-Union Scientific-Research Institute of Synthetic Rubber, Leningrad. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 5, pp. 780–784, September–October, 1970.     

The composite Milstein methods for the numerical solution of Stratonovich stochastic differential equations

In this paper, we present two composite Milstein methods for the strong solution of Stratonovich stochastic differential equations driven by d-dimensional Wiener processes. The composite Milstein methods are a combination of semi-implicit and implicit Milstein methods. The criterion for choosing either the implicit or the semi-implicit method at each step of the numerical solution is given. The stability and convergence properties of the proposed methods are analyzed for the linear test equation. It is shown that the proposed methods converge to the exact solution in Stratonovich sense. In addition, the stability properties of our methods are found to be superior to those of the Milstein and the composite Euler methods. The convergence properties for the nonlinear case are shown numerically to be the same as the linear case. Hence, the proposed methods are a good candidate for the solution of stiff SDEs.     

Effect of fiber length on the strength and fracture properties of a fiber-filled silicone composite

The mechanism by which fillers strengthen polymers is discussed, and the effect of fiber length on static and impact bending strength and on the area of the fracture surface is studied with reference to the example of a silicone composite. A correlation is established between the strength properties and the area of the fracture surface. On the basis of the data obtained it is shown that, as the fiber length increases, the fracture mechanism changes from extraction of the ends of the fibers along the fracture path to breakage of the fibers.Moscow Lomonosov Institute of Fine Chemical Technology. Ter-Gazaryan State Scientific-Research Planning Institute of Polymer Adhesives, Kirovakan. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 3, pp. 445–449, May–June, 1971.     

Evolution of the Fiber Density in Biological Tissues

An important challenge in the field of biomechanics is to understand and to model the properties of fibrous tissues. We consider a matrix-fiber composite for which the matrix microstructure and its mechanical properties are taken to be constant. The initial fiber distribution is assumed to be unstructured and the mechanical properties of the fibers evolve during deformation. Further we assume that the fiber creation rate is constant while the fiber degeneration is stretch-dependent. In particular, this study investigates the change of the fiber orientation density when a sudden simple shear is applied to the material. The fiber orientation density depends on the current deformation, the history of the deformation, and the deformation state of the fibers at the time of their creation. (© 2014 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Calculation of effective moduli of composite materials

Effective properties of composite and porous materials are determined by using an approach based on two-scale asymptotic expansions. Explicit approximate formulas are derived for the effective moduli of composite and porous materials of elongated structures. A numerical method is proposed for finding solutions to cell problems, which are used to determine “exact” effective moduli. Examples are computed for a two-dimensional porous medium with variously shaped pores and various degrees of “elongation.” The effective moduli produced by the explicit approximate formulas prove to be similar to those found by numerically solving cell problems.     

Structural elastic and creep models of a UD composite in longitudinal shear

The transient creep of a UD composite with a quadratic arrangement of elastic fibers of quadratic cross section is investigated. The deformational properties of the composite are determined from the known properties of its constituents. A structural model of the UD composite is developed, whose minimal elementary cell contains four elements. The stress-strain state of the elements is assumed homogeneous. Two types of basic and resolving governing equations of transient creep are deduced, which are based on static or kinematic assumptions. In each of the cases, a formula for the longitudinal elastic shear modulus of the composite is found. The stationary solutions of creep equations allow one to obtain formulas of the steady-state creep of the composite in a form similar to Norton’s law. Numerical calculations are also performed, and a comparison of the results with data given in the literature bears witness to the efficiency of the models developed and the solutions obtained. __________ Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 43, No. 4, pp. 437–448, July–August, 2007.     

Influence of structure on the mechanical properties of block copolymers

The variation of the strength characteristics of three-block butadiene-styrene copolymers with the characteristic viscosity has been investigated for polymers of fixed styrene content, as has its variation with the styrene and butadiene content. Measurements were made in the temperature range 20–60°C, at rates of elongation of 5, 50, 250, 500, and 1000 mm/min. It was shown that the relationship between the breaking strength of the block-copolymers and the rate of elongation is analogous to that found for rubber vulcanizates, but has specific features determined by their structure. Values are tabulated for the parameters A and n in the equation giving the relationship between the strength and the rate of elongation under isothermal conditions.     

Experimental Evaluation of the Effect of the Structure of Composite Rings on Their Properties in the Radial Direction

Based on the results of bending tests on cut glass-fiber-reinforced plastic rings with a longitudinal-circumferential reinforcement, their radial peel strength is evaluated. The effect of the fiber layout on the properties of the rings in the radial direction is investigated. It is shown that their radial tensile strength only slightly depends on the fiber layout but is basically determined by the properties of the polymer interlayer between the fibers. In radial tension, the presence of fibers in the polymer layer leads to a strain concentration, which results in a premature failure of the polymer phase of the composite. The strain-concentration factor cannot be used for an accurate prediction of the breaking stresses or strains of the composite, because of different failure modes of the pure resin and the composite.     

Homogenization of Unidirectional and Arbitrarily Oriented Fiber-Reinforced Materials by the Method of Conditional Moments

In this paper the method of conditional moments is developed for the case of a two–component matrix composite with randomly distributed unidirectional and arbitrarily oriented ellipsoidal inclusions. The algorithm for determination of the effective elastic properties of composites from the given elastic constants of the components and geometrical parameters and orientation of inclusions is discussed. It is assumed that the components of the composite show orthotropic symmetry of thermoelastic properties. As a numerical example arbolite (straw particle inclusions in a cement matrix) is considered. The dependencies of Young's moduli, Poisson's ratios and shear moduli from the concentration of inclusions and for certain orientations of the inclusions are predicted and discussed. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Effect of boundary-layer processes on the strength of glass-reinforced plastics

It is shown experimentally that the strength of glass-reinforced plastics is determined by the properties of the resin close to the fibers; these depend on the structure and chemical composition of the fiber surface. A study is made of the effect of modification of the glass fiber on curing conditions in the layer next to the fiber for a number of resins (K9 silicone resin, ED-6 epoxy resin, polyacrylate-911, and furfural PF resin).Mekhanika polimerov, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 26–35, 1965     

Deformation of composites with arbitrarily oriented orthotropic fibers under matrix microdamages

In the present work, a model of nonlinear deformation of stochastic composites under microdamaging is developed for the case of a composite with orthotropic inclusions, when microdefects are accumulated in the matrix. The composite is treated as an isotropic matrix strengthened by triaxial arbitrarily oriented ellipsoidal inclusions with orthotropic symmetry of the elastic properties. It is assumed that the process of loading leads to accumulation of damage in the matrix. Fractured microvolumes are modeled by a system of randomly distributed quasispherical pores. The porosity balance equation and relations for determining the effective elastic modules in the case of orthotropic components are taken as basic relations. The fracture criterion is specified as the limiting value of the intensity of average shear stresses acting in the intact part of the material. On the basis of the analytic and numerical approach, we propose an algorithm for the determination of nonlinear deformation properties of the investigated material. The nonlinearity of composite deformations is caused by the finiteness of deformations. By using the numerical solution, the nonlinear stress–strain diagrams are predicted and discussed for an orthotropic composite material for various cases of orientation of inclusions in the matrix.     

Measuring the stresses in fibers of a loaded composite material by the method of infrared spectroscopy

Conclusions 1. Actual stresses in reinforcement fibers of a loaded composite have been measured by infrared spectroscopy.2. It has been shown that the plain rule of mixtures, not accounting for changes in mechanical properties of the matrix during processing of a composite, does not apply to a hot molded polyethylene-polypropylene composite.3. It is suggested that around the reinforcement fibers there exists an ordered layer of the matrix material capable of carrying a heavy load. A method is proposed, furthermore, for calculating the mechanical characteristics of the composite with such a layer. The volume fraction and the thickness of this hardened layer have been estimated from experimental data.Paper presented at the Third All-Union Conference on Polymer Mechanics in Riga, 1976.A. F. Ioffe Physicotechnical Institute, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Leningrad. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 5, pp. 832–837, September–October, 1977.     

Deformation of orthotropic composites with unidirectional ellipsoidal inclusions under matrix microdamages

In the present paper, a model of deformation of stochastic composites under microdamaging is developed for the case of orthotropic composite, when the microdamages are accumulated in the matrix. The composite is treated as an isotropic matrix strengthened by three-axial ellipsoidal inclusions with orthotropic symmetry of elastic properties. It is assumed that the loading process leads to accumulation of damages in the matrix. Fractured microvolumes are modeled by a system of randomly distributed quasispherical pores. The porosity balance equation and relations for determining the effective elastic moduli for the case of a composite with orthotropic components are taken as the basic relations. The fracture criterion is assumed to be given as the limit value of the intensity of average shear stresses occurring in the undamaged part of the material. Based on the analytical and numerical approach, an algorithm for the determination of nonlinear deformation properties of such a material is constructed. The nonlinearity of composite deformations is caused by the accumulation of microdamages in the matrix. Using the numerical solution, nonlinear stress-strain diagrams for the orthotropic composite in the case of biaxial extension are obtained. Published in Matematychni Metody ta Fizyko-Mekhanichni Polya, Vol. 51, No. 1, pp. 121–130, January–March, 2008.     

Modification of glass-filled polyamide 66 by reactive oligoorganosilane

Properties of glass-filled polyamide 66 modified by reactive oligoorganosilane were investigated. It was found that modification led to the improvement of the rheological properties of polyamide. The addition of the modifier decreased the glass transition temperature T_g of the polyamide from 60 to 50–59°C, without affecting the melting point. Composites modified by oligoorganosilane are characterized by higher (10–40°C) temperatures of onset and 50% weight loss as compared to the initial composite. It was found that chemical reaction of oligoorganosilane with polyamide and glass fibers took place during coextrusion of the modifier and polyamide, which formed firm chemical bonds between the polyamide and filler and thus favored a considerable improvement in the physicomechanical properties of the composite. The change in the structure and properties of the polyamide observed during modification by oligoorganosilane significantly affected its behavior during friction. The modification made it possible to increase the wear resistance of the composite 1.5 to 2 times and to decrease its friction coefficient from 0.38 to 0.27–0.33. It was also found that the ability of oligoorganosilane to react during its processing with water in the polyamide allowed for a significant decrease in the intensity of hydrolytic processes in the polymer. Because of this, the physicomechanical, rheological, and antifrictional properties of modified composites with an increased content of moisture (up to 3%) in the initial polyamide surpass similar characteristics of the composites containing no modifier, with not only enhanced but also optimum (0.2%) humidity of polymer granules.Nesmeyanov Institute of Organoelement Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia. Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 34, No. 4, pp. 545–553, July–August, 1998.     

正交异性矩形板后屈曲摄动分析

本文从正交异性板Kármán型大挠度方程出发,以挠度为摄动参数,采用直接摄动法,研究了正交异性矩形板在面内压缩作用下的后屈曲性态.本文讨论了两种面内边界条件,同时考虑了初始挠度的影响.本文给出了多种复合材料板的计算结果.所得结果与实验结果的比较表明二者是一致的.     

Application of the method of conditional moments to investigating the deformation properties of orthotropic composites with fiber microdamages

A model of deformation of stochastic composites subjected to microdamage is developed for the case of orthotropic materials with microdamages accumulating in the fibers. The composite is treated as a matrix strengthened with elliptic fibers with orthotropic elastic properties. The fractured microvolumes are modeled by a system of randomly distributed quasi-spherical pores. The porosity balance equation and relations for determining the effective elastic moduli for the case of a fibrous composite with orthotropic components are used as the fundamental relations. The fracture criterion is given as a limit value of the intensity of average shear stresses occurring in the undamaged part of the material, which is assumed to be a random function of coordinates and is described by the Weibull distribution. Based on an analytical and numerical approach, the algorithm for determining the nonlinear deformation properties of such a material is constructed. The nonlinearity of composite deformations is caused by the accumulation of microdamages in the fibers. By using a numerical solution, the nonlinear stress–strain diagrams for an orthotropic composite in uniaxial tension are obtained. Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 45, No. 1, pp. 17–30, January–February, 2009.     

Nonlinear fixed-h stability of linear multistep formulas

Stability properties similar to A-stability are established for implicit linear multistep formulas, LMF, when applied to nonlinear stable systems. Sufficient criteria are given which guarantee the fixed-h stability of the global numerical error for various classes of nonlinearities. These criteria relate the behavior of the root-locus curve defined by the LMF to the dissipative properties of the system. A simple criterion for the stability of a composite system is also given.     

Rationalization of the shape of wound membrane shells of revolution composed of high-modulus material

A method of designing composite membrane shells of revolution under axisymmetric loading is described. The properties of the shell material are analyzed. It is shown that for shells of high-modulus material in the presence of tensile membrane stresses the fibers fail in the matrix. A fiber arrangement and shell geometry ensuring isotensoid properties are proposed for this case. A technological and weight analysis is presented.S. Ordzhonikidze Moscow Aviation Institute. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 5, pp. 822–828, September–October, 1975.     

Surface acoustic waves in the testing of layered media. The waves’ sensitivity to variations in the properties of the individual layers

Research on the use of surface acoustic waves for the nondestructive testing of layered media is reviewed. A model to describe horizontally polarized surface acoustic waves in layered anisotropic (monoclinic) media is constructed. A modified transfer-matrix method is developed to obtain a solution. Non-canonical type waves with horizontal transverse polarization are investigated. Dispersion curves are constructed for a multilayer composite in contact with an anisotropic half-space. It is shown that the variation of the physical characteristics and the geometry of any of the internal layers leads to a variation in the dispersion curves. This opens up the possibility of using dispersion analysis for the nondestructive testing of the properties of the individual layers.