Electromechanical properties of continuous fibre-reinforced piezoelectric composites

The objective of this paper is to present analytical expressions of the basic effective constants (for transducer applications) of fibrous piezoelectric composites with a periodic structure. These expressions were obtained on the basis of the asymptotic averaging method, following the same procedure used in [1] for the purely elastic case. The averaged electromechanical properties for these piezocomposites can be calculated from the above formulas. The results obtained from the theoretical predictions with the use of homogenization method show good agreement with the existing experimental results.Published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 33, No. 5, pp. 670–680, September–October, 1997.     

Two-scale computational homogenization of magneto-electric composites

This contribution presents a two-scale computational homogenization framework for the micro-macro simulation of magneto-electro-mechanically coupled materials. Energetically consistent micro-macro transition conditions will be derived from a generalized form of the classical Hill-Mandel condition. A focus of the work is on the computation of effective magneto-electric moduli which are derived on the basis of an algorithmically consistent linearization of the macroscopic field equations. The method will be applied to the homogenization of magneto-electric composites which are composed of piezomagnetic and piezoelectric phases. The effective magneto-electric moduli of two-phase composites will be computed. (© 2013 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Modal analysis of piezoelectric bodies with voids. II. Finite element simulation

The paper is concerned with the eigenvalue problems for piezoelectric bodies with voids in contact with massive rigid plane punches and coved by the system of open-circuited and short-circuited electrodes. The linear theory of piezoelectric materials with voids for porosity change properties according to Cowin–Nunziato model is used. The generalized statements for eigenvalue problem are obtained in the extended and reduced forms. A variational principle is constructed which has the properties of minimality, similar to the well-known variational principle for problems with pure elastic media. The discreteness of the spectrum and completeness of the eigenfunctions are proved. The orthogonality relations for eigenvectors are obtained in different forms. As a consequence of variational principles, the properties of an increase or a decrease in the natural frequencies, when the mechanical, electric and “porous” boundary conditions and the moduli of piezoelectric solid with voids change, are established.     

Micro‐Macro Modelling of Piezoelectric Fiber Composites

The present work deals with the numerical modeling of 1‐3 periodic composites made of piezoceramic (PZT) fibers embedded in a soft non‐piezoelectric matrix. We especially focus on predicting the effective co‐efficients of the periodic transversely isotropic piezoelectric fiber composites using representative volume element method (unit cell method). The results which are obtained from the FEM technique are compared with analytical homogenization method for different volume fractions. The effective co‐efficients are obtained for rectangular and hexagonal arrangement of unidirectional piezoelectric fiber composites. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Electromechanical properties of laminated piezoelectric composites

The general expressions for the effective elastic, piezoelectric, and dielectric coefficients of a laminated piezocomposite composed of laminates in parallel connection are shown. By means of the asymptotic averaging method [12] these effective coefficients are calculated. The effective coefficients as well as physical properties such as electromechanical piezoelectric coupling coefficients, acoustic impedance, and wave velocity for a two-phase composite, where one phase is ceramic and the other one is polymer, are analyzed. A comparison with another results is shown.Presented at the Ninth International Conference on the Mechanics of Composite Materials, Riga, October, 1995.Published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 32, No. 3, pp. 410–417, May–June, 1996.     

Physicomechanical properties of composites from recycled polyethylene and linen yarn production wastes

The possibilities of utilizing wastes of linen thread production (chaffs, spinning and roving losses) in recycled polyolefin composites have been investigated. The wastes were mixed with recycled polyethylenes (produced from domestic and industrial film production wastes). The physicomechanical properties (tensile strength, bending and tensile moduli, and water resistance) and the fluidity (melt flow-behavior index) for systems with a different filler content are estimated. Almost all the composite materials obtained have satisfactory fluidity (melt flow-behavior index is not lower than 0.07–0.15 dg/min). For all types of the composites, a slight increase in tensile strength and a considerable increase (3–7 times) in bending and tensile moduli were observed. The water resistance of the composites decreased with an increase in the filler content. The modification of filled systems with diisocyanates (diphenylmethane diisocyanate) improved the useful properties and water resistance of all the composites investigated.Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 35, No. 2, pp. 199–210, March–April, 1999.     

Determination of the resonant frequencies of an anisotropic piezoelectric disk

An equation for the resonant frequencies of a thin anisotropic circular disk is obtained assuming exponential particular solutions. The roots of the equation are determined numerically. The resonant frequencies of two piezoelectric crystals are computed and compared with the resonant frequencies when the piezoelectric effect is not taken into account.Donetsk. Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Prikladnaya Mekhanika, No. 21, pp. 72–74, 1990.     

Generalized self-consistent method: Modeling and computation of effective elastic properties of composites with composite or hollow inclusions

A new approach to the generalized self-consistent method [1,2] has been developed for problems of the statistical mechanics of composites with composite or hollow inclusions. The approach can reduce the problem of predicting the effective elastic properties of composites to a simpler averaged problem of a single, composite, or hollow inclusion with inhomogeneous elastic surrounding in a homogeneous effective elastic medium. The problem of predicting the effective elastic properties of composites with unidirectional hollow fibers or hollow spherical inclusions are studied by using the new approach.Submitted to the 10th International Conference on Mechanics of Composite Materials, April 20–23, 1998, Riga, Latvia.Perm' State Technical University, Russia. Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 34, No. 2, pp. 173–183, March–April, 1998.     

Thermoelastic expansion of spherical fiber composites

A refined solution is constructed for thermoelastic expansion of spherical fiber composites with a three-dimensional structure on the basis of existing hypotheses about the longitudinal state of fibers in a matrix strengthened with spherical inclusions. Relationships defining the dependence in explicit form of thermoelastic coefficients on structural parameters are obtained in analytical form. Thermal expansion coefficients for composites with cubic symmetry are discussed in detail.Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 33, No. 2, pp. 251–257, March–April, 1997.     

Modern trends in the development of fibrous composites

The two main trends in the development of high-modulus composites are considered. Improved methods of calculation sensitive to the effects associated with the weak shear and transverse characteristics are reviewed. It is shown that the disadvantages of composites with a traditional arrangement of the reinforcement can be overcome. The properties of boron- and carbon-reinforced plastics with a traditional reinforcement structure are described and compared with those of three-dimensionally structured materials with two- or three-strand reinforcing. Whiskerized fiber reinforcement is also considered. A program of further research on high-modulus composites is outlined.Presented at the 2nd All-Union Conference on Polymer Mechanics, Riga, November 10–12, 1971.Institute of Polymer Mechanics, Academy of Sciences of the Latvian SSR, Riga. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 3, pp. 541–552, May–June, 1972.     

Analysis of elastomeric composites based on fiber-reinforced systems. 2. Unidirectional composites

The elastic properties of unidirectionally reinforced composite materials under large deformations are studied. The applied model for deformation of materials is based on the structural macroscopic theory of stiff and soft composites, including micro- and macromechanical levels of analysis of composite media. The properties of unidirectional elastomeric composites are studied in tension and shear in the plane of reinforcement. The microscopic fields in the structural components of composites having poorly compressible and compressible matrices are also analyzed. Changes in the parameters of macroscopic deformation of the composites are examined as functions of the loading parameters and initial conditions of the structure. The evolution of the structural changes in deformed composite materials is described.State Metallurgical Academy of Ukraine, Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine. Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 35, No. 1, pp. 29–50, January–February, 1999.     

Numerical analysis of two-phase magneto-electric composites

The focus of this paper is on the simulation of two-phase magneto-electric (ME) composites, consisting of a piezoelectric matrix with piezomagnetic inclusions. In such composites, the coupling between electric and magnetic fields is strain-induced and thus ME coupling arises as a product porperty. In order to compute the effective properties of the composite a computational homogenization scheme based on the Finite Element Method will be applied. (© 2013 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Electret composite materials based on polymers: Main properties and new fields of application

Data are given on the effect of an electret charge on wetting, spreading, sorption, and diffusion of liquids in polymers and composites. The modification of polymers in electric fields or by electret and electrochemically active fillers improves the physical-mechanical and tribological characteristics of materials. It is shown that the electret composites used in machines for protecting the metal-polymer joints against corrosion increase their rigidity and tightness and improve their tribological characteristics. Electret composites are new-generation materials (smart or intelligent materials) since they respond to recent developments in technology and are capable of raising the efficiency of machines with simultaneous reduction in energy and consumption of materials.Submitted to the 10th International Conference on Mechanics of Composite Materials, April 20–23, 1998, Riga, Latvia.Belyi Metal-Polymer Research Institute, National Academy of Sciences, Gomel 246652, Belarus. Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 34, No. 2, pp. 153–162, March–April, 1998.     

Evaluating the effect of whiskerization of the fibers of composites on the fundamental frequency of a laminated cylindrical shell

Conclusion The calculations showed that whiskerization of the reinforcement of the structural material of multilaminate shells makes it possible in some cases to increase the fundamental vibration frequency of the structure up to 15–20%. In combination with the well-known [1] effect of improved strength characteristics for a whiskerized composite in the transverse and shear directions, this finding allows us to conclude that whiskerized structural materials are more efficient than ordinary laminated composites in shell-type load-bearing structures. Here, the greatest benefit can be expected in the case of whiskers which have higher elastic moduli than the main reinforcement. Since considerably higher reinforcement intensities can be achieved in whiskerized laminated composites than in composites with a reinforcement characterized by an arbitrary three-dimensional structure, it can be concluded on the basis of the results obtained here that, at least for shells of moderate thickness (10 < R/h 50), whiskerized composites are the optimum structural material for load-bearing shells.Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, No. 6, pp. 1022–1027, November–December, 1987.     

Wave triplets in two-phase composites

The possibility of an appearance of wave triplets in composites is studied. It is shown that a resonant interaction in industrial composites is possible. It is stated graphically only in two classic examples of layered and fiber reinforced composites that dispersion curves of the materials allow a resonant wave interaction. The quadratic nonlinear theory of two-phase mixtures is built as the variant of a microstructure theory of composite materials. Triplets of harmonic waves are studied in the framework of this theory.Published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 31, No. 5, pp. 660–670, September–October, 1995.     

Production and characterization of UHMWPE fibers/LDPE composites

The production of unidirectionally fiber-reinforced composites (tapes) consisting of high-strength/high-modulus UHMWPE fibers and LDPE matrix is described. Two production techniques are applied: impregnation by aqueous powder dispersion and dry powder impregnation. The produced composites exhibit excellent mechanical properties. Depending on the fiber volume content which can be obtained: tensile strength (in fiber direction) 460–1100 MPa, elastic modulus 11–22 GPa, and elongation at break 4.9–8.3%.Presented at the Ninth International Conference on the Mechanics of Composite Materials, Riga, October, 1995.Technical University of Berlin. Institute of Nonmetallic Materials. Polymer Physics Group.-Englishe Str. 20, D-10587 Berlin. Germany. Published in Mekhanik Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 32, No. 6. pp. 719–728, November–December, 1996.     

Effect of small additives of oligomer on the viscoelastic properties of carbon fiber plastics

The viscoelastic properties of carbon fiber composites whose phenol-formaldehyde matrix is modified by thermodynamically incompatible isocyanate derivatives have been investigated. Data are given on fiber wetting (Table 11), internal stress (Table 2), viscoelastic properties (Fig. 1), and tensile strength (Fig. 2). The modified composites are strengthened by the addition of 0.5–4% oligomer additive. This process involves the formation of a two-phase structure, in which the additive phase microparticles act as a polymer filler. Due to selective interactions, the intermediate layer formed at the fiber-binder interface leads to changes in the viscoelastic properties and tensile strength of the matrix and improved maintenance characteristics for the material as a whole.Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 29, No. 4, pp. 440–445, July–August, 1993.     

Kinetic laws of the thermal degradation of epoxide-resin-based composites

Conclusions In our study we establish, using polyepoxides and polyepoxide composites as examples, that the kinetic laws governing the thermal degradation of polymer matrices as a component of composites may differ significantly from those for block polymers, and provide an explanation of this effect.Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, No. 3, pp. 391–397, May–June, 1990.     

Dependence of elastic and strength characteristics of high-modulus composites on schemes of reinforcement

The elastic and strength characteristics of high-modulus composites with 12 different reinforcement schemes have been studied thoroughly. The effect of reinforcement schemes on change in elastic and strength characteristics of composites has been evaluated. A calculation of the elastic characteristics of high-modulus composites has been performed from the properties of the reinforcement and binder, and a comparison of the results with experimental data is given. Diagrams of deformation upon extension of the composites studied are given.All-Union Scientific-Research Institute of Aviation Materials, Moscow. Institute of Polymer Mechanics, Academy of Sciences of the Latvian SSR, Riga. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 6, pp. 1019–1027, November–December, 1974.     

Investigation of nonlinear properties of composites consisting of linear-elastic components

Problems of meridionally axisymmetrical geometrically nonlinear elasticity theory [2] are discussed as applied to the investigation of the properties of composites.Physicotechnical Institute, Moscow. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 5, pp. 898–905, September–October, 1973.