Analysis of adhesively bonded CFRE composite scarf joints modified with MWCNTs

The main objective of the present work is to improve the performance of bonded joints in carbon fiber composite structures through introducing Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) into Epocast 50-A1/946 epoxy, which was primarily developed for joining and repairing of composite aircraft structures. Results from tension characterizations of structural adhesive joints (SAJs) with different scarf angles (5–45°) showed improvement up to 40% compared to neat epoxy (NE)–SAJs. Special attention was considered to investigate the performance of SAJs with 5° scarf angle under different environments. The tensile strength and stiffness of both NE-SAJs and MWCNT/E-SAJs were dramatically decreased at elevated temperature. Water absorption showed a marginal drop of about 2.0% in the tensile strength of the moist SAJs compared to the dry one. Cracks initiation and propagation were detected effectively using instrumented-SAJs with eight strain gauges. The experimental results agree well with the predicted using three-dimensional finite element analysis model.     

Characteristics and formation mechanism of porosities in CFRP during laser joining of CFRP and steel

An experimental investigation on the mechanism of porosity formation during the laser joining of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) and steel is presented. The porosity morphology and distribution were characterized by optical and scanning electron microscopy, and the thermal pyrolysis behaviors were investigated by thermal analysis and designed back-side cooling experiments. The results show that there are two types of porosities in CFRP. Porosity I only appears when the heat input is more than 77.8 J/mm. It has a smooth inner wall and distributes near the bonding interface between CFRP and steel at the central area of melted zone, which is caused by gaseous products such as CO₂, NH₃, H₂O, and hydrocarbons produced by the pyrolysis of CFRP. Porosity II can be seen under all joining conditions. It has a rough inner wall and distributes far away from the bonding interface, concentrating at the final solidification locations. Porosity II is caused by the shrinkage of melted CFRP during solidification stage.     

Measuring changing strain fields in composites with Distributed Fiber-Optic Sensing using the optical backscatter reflectometer

Background/purposeMeasurements of strains in critical components are often required in addition to finite element calculations when evaluating a structure.MethodsThis paper describes how standard optical fibers, bonded to the surface or embedded in a laminate, can measure strain fields along the entire length of the fiber, using the optical backscatter reflectometer.ResultsA strain field measurement can be much better compared to simulations than the more common single point measurements with strain gauges or Bragg Gratings. Changes of the strain field can be related to damage development and can be used for structural health monitoring. Practical aspects of using the fibers are also discussed.ConclusionDistributed Fiber-Optic Sensing was successfully embedded and bonded to a composite joint. Adhesive damage was identified and the strain field agreed well with FE-Analysis.     

Experimental Investigation of FRP-Strengthened RC Beam-Column Joints

The results of a comprehensive experimental program, aimed at providing a fundamental understanding of the behavior of shear-critical exterior reinforced concrete (RC) joints strengthened with fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) under simulated seismic load, are presented in this study. The role of various parameters on the effectiveness of FRP is examined through 2/3-scale testing of 18 exterior RC joints. Conclusions are drawn on the basis of certain load versus imposed displacement response characteristics, comprising the strength (maximum lateral load), the stiffness, and the cumulative energy dissipation capacity. The results demonstrate the important role of mechanical anchorages in limiting premature debonding, and they provide important information on the role of various parameters, including: area fraction of FRP; distribution of FRP between the beam and the column; column axial load; internal joint (steel) reinforcement; initial damage; carbon versus glass fibers; sheets versus strips; and effect of transverse beams.     

Dynamic Bending Strains in Planar Trusses with Pinned or Rigid Joints

The method of reverberation ray matrix is applied to analyze the dynamic behavior of structural members in trusses with pinned joints subjected to suddenly applied force. The results are compared with those in planar trusses with rigid joints. Detailed calculations are made with two types of trusses, a small laboratory model made of slender aluminum bars, and a hypothetical real size Pratt truss made of structural steel. It is found that the maximum dynamic bending strains in the members of both types of trusses are very large, comparable with the dynamic axial strains in the same member. The magnitudes of bending strains in the pinned truss differs little from those in the truss with rigid joints for both types of trusses. Such a large dynamic bending strain in a structure member, which is contradictory to the static behavior of the same truss, could be caused by the inertial force of the mass in structural members of the truss.     

Electrical Characterization of a Joined Electroceramic, La0.85Sr0.15MnO3

Pieces of saw-cut La_0.85Sr_0.15MnO₃ were joined at 1150° and 1250°C under a compressive stress. The strains to form the joints were ∼0.1. Joints formed by plastic deformation were examined using scanning electron microscopy, and they were indistinguishable from the bulk. The room-temperature direct-current resistivity of the joined pieces was identical to that measured in the bulk material. This indicated that a sound, electrically conducting joint could be formed using plastic deformation (grain-boundary sliding) with little surface preparation.     

A numerical analysis of the elastic-plastic peel test

The adhesive fracture energy, G_c, is determined from two types of elastic-plastic peel tests (i.e. the single-arm 90° and T-peel methods) and a linear-elastic fracture-mechanics (LEFM) test method (i.e. the tapered double-cantilever beam, TDCB method). A rubber-toughened epoxy adhesive, with both aluminium-alloy and steel substrates, has been used in the present work to manufacture the bonded joints. The peel tests are then modelled using numerical methods. The overall approach to modelling the elastic-plastic peel tests is to employ a finite-element analysis (FEA) approach and to model the crack advance through the adhesive layer via a node-release technique, based upon attaining a critical plastic strain in the element immediately ahead of the crack tip. It is shown that this ‘critical plastic strain fracture model (CPSFM)’ results in predicted values of the steady-state peel loads which are in excellent agreement with the experimentally-measured values. Also, the resulting values of G_c, as determined using the FEA CPSFM approach, have been found to be in excellent agreement with values from previously-reported analytical and direct-measurement methods. Further, it has been found that the calculated values of G_c are independent of whether a standard LEFM test or an elastic-plastic peel test method is employed. Therefore, it has been demonstrated that the value of the adhesive fracture energy, G_c, is independent of the geometric parameters studied and the value of G_c is indeed a characteristic of the joint, in this case for cohesive fracture through the adhesive layer. Finally, it is noted that the FEA CPSFM approach promises considerable potential for the analysis of peel tests which involve very extensive plastic deformation of the peeling arm and for analysing, and predicting, the performance of more complex adhesively-bonded geometries which involve extensive plastic deformation of the substrates.     

Behavior, Analysis, and Design of an Instrumented Link Slab Bridge

Presented in this paper are the results of a research project on the monitoring and assessment of the first link slab jointless bridge in the state of North Carolina. The structure was instrumented with a remote data acquisition system and monitored for over a year. In addition, a controlled load test was conducted in an effort to determine the demand on the link slab under known loads. A procedure for the limit-states design of a link slab system is also presented. Results indicate that while the crack size in the link slab exceeded the design level, the link slab fulfilled its function. Furthermore, the rotational demand from the large controlled loads as well as the traffic loads was similar in magnitude to the thermal induced rotations due to the difference in temperature between the top and bottom of the bridge.     

Seismic Rehabilitation of Deficient Exterior Concrete Frame Joints

The performance of rehabilitated reinforced concrete beam-column joints was compared with the response of existing joints designed to preseismic codes to assess proposed rehabilitation techniques. Six beam-column subassemblies with nonductile reinforcement detailing were tested. The joints were subjected to quasi-static load that simulates seismic forces. The first three specimens had inadequate anchorage length of the bottom beam bars. Two of them were strengthened by using carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer sheets attached to the bottom beam face and then tested. The other three specimens had no steel ties installed in the joint zone, in addition to inadequate anchorage length of the beam bars. Two of the beam-column joints were strengthened by glass-fiber-reinforced polymer jackets of the joint zone and steel rods or plates. The rehabilitation techniques were found effective in eliminating the brittle joint shear and steel bar bond-slip failure modes, and ductile beam hinging instead occurred.     

Local effects in the vicinity of inserts in sandwich panels

The paper considers local bending effects induced in the vicinity of inserts in sandwich panels. Such local bending effects are associated with an increase of bending stresses in the sandwich faces and normal and shear stresses in the sandwich core. An earlier developed analytic model [Proceedings of the Sixth International Conference on Sandwich Structures (ICSS-6) (2002) 551] is adapted for the case of a sandwich panel with circular insert, with elastic properties differing from those of the core. The locally induced stresses in the faces and core due to presence of the insert are expressed via simple analytic relations (and charts) enabling an estimation of these local stresses. Finite element analysis is employed to demonstrate the applicability of the analytic model, and a good correspondence between the numerical and the analytical data is found. A study case related to marine applications, namely a circular insert in a sandwich deck panel used for mounting of a rigging fixture, is considered, and optimization of an existing design is carried out.