Interaction of a polymer matrix and short reinforcing fibers

A model of a glass-reinforced plastic with short unidirectional fibers is proposed. The distribution of tensile stresses in the polymer matrix and the fibers and the shear stress distribution at the interface in uniaxial tension are investigated in the elastic formulation.Riga Polytechnic Institute. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 6, pp. 1030–1035, November–December, 1971.     

Effect of aggregation of a dispersed rigid filler on the elastic characteristics of a polymer composite

Conclusions We proposed a method for describing the effective elastic characteristics of a polymer composite with a rigid aggregating filler. An important feature of such a medium is the variable coupling of the inclusion phase in relation to its volume content. A change in the degree of coupling of the filler is accounted for by introducing an additional parameter. We examined a method of determining the coupling parameter from the results of statistical modeling of the geometry of the medium. Using the example of a calcite-HDPE composite, we showed that aggregation has a significant effect on the dependence of the elastic modulus on the volume content of filler; satisfactory agreement was obtained between the theoretical and experimental data.Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, No. 1, pp. 14–22, January–February, 1986.     

Effect of hot-drawing conditions on the orientation characteristics of carbon-chain fibers determined by the acoustic method

The orientation characteristics of polypropylene, polyacrylonitrile, and chlorinated PVC fibers, determined by the acoustic method, have been investigated in relation to the fiber drawing conditions (draw ratio, speed, and temperature). It is shown that there is a correlation between the mechanical characteristics and the degree of acoustic anisotropy.Tashkent Institute of the Textile and Light Industries. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 3, pp. 552–554, May–June, 1971.     

Effect of preliminary orientation on polymer friction

It has been shown experimentally that preliminary orientation leads to a change in the mechanical properties of polymers, a decrease in the actual contact area and a corresponding reduction of the deformation and adhesion components of the forces of friction.Institute of Mechanics of Metal — Polymer Systems, Academy of Sciences of the Belorussian SSR, Gomel'. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 4, pp. 692–696, July–August, 1971.     

Estimation of the length distribution of through polymer chains

The contributions of entropy and elastic forces to the tensile modulus of a polymer chain are estimated. The chain length-distribution function in the amorphous region of highly oriented Lavsan is approximately determined from macroscopic stress-strain dependence. It is found that the length distribution has a width of the order of several percent of the length of the amorphous region of the fibril.A. F. Ioffe Physicotechnical Institute, Leningrad. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 5, pp. 922–925, September–October, 1974.     

Investigation of the dynamic fatigue of composite polymer materials

The dynamic fatigue of composite film materials has been studied as a function of the frequency and amplitude of deformation. The tests were carried out on a vibration apparatus with a frequency range from 10 to 600 cps. The test objects consisted of foil packaging with a polyethylene backing (foil-film).The dependence of the dynamic fatigue of foil-film on amplitude, frequency, and acceleration was studied. It has been shown that in all cases failure of the material is preceded by cracking of the foil and peeling of the foil from the polyethylene backing at the site of the cracks. The material fails as a result of puncture of the polyethylene backing by the broken edge of the cracked foil.Mekhanika Polimerov, Vol. 1, No. 5, pp. 90–94, 1965     

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.     

Relation between molecular orientation characteristics determined from birefringence and acoustic data and the effect of orientation on the strength of polycaprolactam fibers

The mean molecular orientation calculated from birefringence and acoustic data has been investigated in relation to the degree of stretching for polycaprolactam fiber. A correlation has been found between the characteristics calculated by these two independent methods. It is shown that the molecular orientation factor calculated from the speed of sound does not depend on crystallinity if the measurements are made below the glass transition temperature. It is confirmed that the strength of the fiber depends importantly on the degree of orientation of the molecular segments in the amorphous zones.Mekhanika Polimerov, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 3–7, 1967     

Effect of surface modification of fibers with a polymer coating on the interlaminar shear strength of a composite and the translation of fiber strength in an F-12 aramid/epoxy composite vessel

The surface of aramid fibers was modified with a polymer coating — a surface treatment reagent containing epoxy resin. The resulting fibers were examined by using NOL tests, hydroburst tests, and the scanning electron microscopy. The modified fibers had a rougher surface than the untreated ones. The interlaminar shear strength of an aramid-fiber-reinforced epoxy composite was highest when the concentration of polymer coating system was 5%. The translation of fiber strength in an aramid/epoxy composite vessel was improved by 8%. The mechanism of the surface treatment of fibers in improving the mechanical properties of aramid/epoxy composites is discussed. Russian translation publeshed in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 42, No. 6, pp. 729–738, November–December, 2006.     

Effect of fiber orientation and cross section of composite tubes on their energy absorption ability in axial dynamic loading

The crushing behavior of composite tubes in axial impact loading is investigated. Tubes of circular and rectangular cross section are simulated using an LS-DYNA software. The effect of fiber orientation on the energy absorbed in laminated composite tubes is also studied. The results obtained show that rectangular tubes absorb less energy than circular ones, and their maximum crushing load is also lower. The composite tubes with a [+θ/ -θ] lay-up configuration absorb a minimum amount of energy at θ = 15°. The simulation results for a rectangular composite tube with a [+30/–30] lay-up configuration are compared with available experimental data. Cylindrical composite tubes fabricated from woven glass/polyester composites with different lay-ups were also tested using a drop-weight impact tester, and very good agreement between experimental and numerical results is achieved.     

Effect of orientation and molecular weight on the modulus of elasticity of polymer materials

The modulus of elasticity of a perfectly crystalline polymer is calculated as a function of the orientation of the crystallites. The calculations are based on the mechanics of a micro-inhomogeneous continuum. The dependence of the modulus of elasticity on crystallite orientation and molecular weight is calculated with reference to the example of crystalline kapron.Moscow-Lenin Pedagogical Institute. Problem Laboratory of Polymer Physics. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, Vol. 4, No. 6, pp. 1002–1007, November–December, 1968.     

Estimation of the optimal distribution of the fibers in carbon/carbon composite

Carbon/carbon (C/C) composites are widely represented in the industry and are utilized for extreme thermal and mechanical loading. Optimization of the fibers distribution allows by still high stiffness to provide reducing of the weight of the components that has crucial importance in aircraft and aerospace industry. A microstructure optimization problem for estimation of the microstructure with minimal compliance is formulated. The design variables of the posed problem are the local fibers distribution and porosity. The volume fractions of the fibers and pores in the whole microstructure are fixed. (© 2011 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)