On cavitation and macroscopic behaviour of amorphous polymer-rubber blends

Abstract

The macroscopic behaviour of rubber-modified polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) was investigated by taking into account the microdeformation mechanisms of rubber cavitation. The dependence of the macroscopic stress–strain behaviour of matrix deformation on the cavitation of rubber particles was discussed. A phenomenological elastic-viscoplastic model was used to model the behaviour of the matrix material, while the rubber particles were modelled with the hyperelasticity theory. A two-phase composite material with a periodic arrangement of reinforcing particles of a circular unit cell section was considered. Finite-element analysis was used to determine the local stresses and strains in the two-phase composite. In order to describe the cavitation of the rubber particles, a criterion of void nucleation is implemented in the finite-element (FE) code. A comparison of the numerically predicted response with experimental result indicates that the numerical homogenisation analysis gives satisfactory prediction results.     

Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis of Rubber Composite Shells

A finite-element solution for rubber composite shells is presented. Sandwich laminates with a rubber core have also been studied. Incompressibility of a rubber matrix and complexity of composite shells bring forth the need for a sound numerical model to describe the behavior of such engineering materials. The developed model was applied to a degenerate shell element within the limits of the first- and third-order shear deformation theories. The model allows to predict with a sufficient accuracy the nonlinear behavior of sandwich shells with composite skins and rubber cores and composite shells with a rubber matrix.     

Fatigue behaviour of glass-fibre/epoxy-matrix filament-wound pipes: Tension loading tests and results

The fatigue behaviour of glass-fibre-reinforced epoxy resin pipes under axial cyclic loading has been investigated. The experimental method used here is based on three main points. The first involves the design and validation of an experimental system which allows the determination of the endurance (S/N) curves. The second is concerned with characterising the degradation phenomena to obtain a damage model. Lastly, the cumulative damage law is identified and frequency effects are incorporated. A synthesis of the results leads to the presentation of a model which could be applied to the tensile fatigue of composite materials.     

On the linear three-dimensional behaviour of composite beams

This paper describes a method of evaluating the linear stiffness matrix of a three-dimensional beam which accounts for all the possible couplings involved in the use of composite laminations appropriate to satisfy design requirements. The starting point of the procedure is represented by a complete evaluation of the beam cross section properties by use of a two-dimensional finite element analysis. A mass matrix of the beam is also evaluated as well as the external forces, to account for overall thermal deflections.

Some examples are presented and the results are compared either with their theoretical counterparts or with numerical results obtained by means of a full three-dimensional finite element analysis.     

聚合物基纳米复合材料的合成、性质及应用前景

介绍了聚合物 无机纳米复合材料、聚合物 /聚合物纳米复合材料的制备方法、性质、发展方向以及应用前景。对聚合物基纳米复合材料今后的发展提出了一些自己的见解     

Development, structure and strength properties of PP/PMMA/FA blends

A new type of flyash filled PP/PMMA blend has been developed. Structural and thermal properties of flyash (FA) filled polypropylene (PP)/polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) blend system have been determined and analysed. Filled polymer blends were developed on a single screw extruder. Strength and thermal properties of FA filled and unfilled PP/PMMA blends were determined. Addition of flyash imparted dimensional and thermal stability, which has been observed in scanning electron micrographs and in TGA plot. Increase of flyash concentration increased the initial degradation temperature of PP/PMMA blend. The increase of thermal stability has been explained based on increased mechanical interlocking of PP/PMMA chains inside the hollow structure of flyash.     

On the notch sensitivity of flax fibre metal laminates under static and fatigue loading

Damage progression and failure characteristics of open‐hole flax fibre aluminium laminate (flax‐FML) specimens subjected to quasi‐static tensile or tension‐tension fatigue loading were experimentally investigated. Notched and unnotched flax‐FML composites exhibited brittle fracture with little or no fibre pull‐out and minimal delamination at the aluminium/adhesive interface. The flax‐FMLs were tested to failure under tension‐tension fatigue loading conditions (R ratio of 0.1; frequency of 10 Hz; applied fatigue stresses ranging between 30% and 80% of the respective ultimate tensile strength values). The fatigue cycles to failure decreased with the increase in the applied fatigue stress and hole diameter. A phenomenological modelling technique was developed to evaluate the fatigue life of an open‐hole flax‐FML composite. Fatigue tests on specimens subjected to a maximum load equivalent to 35% of the respective tensile failure strength were interrupted at around 85% of the corresponding fatigue life. The accumulated fatigue damage in these specimens was characterised using X‐ray computed tomography. For benchmarking purposes, the fatigue performance and related damage progression in the flax‐FML composite were compared with those of the glass‐FMLs.     

Damage mechanisms in natural (NR) and synthetic rubber (SBR): nucleation,growth and instability of the cavitation*

Elastomeric matrix composites (EMCs) subjected to static and fluctuating loads basically fail due to the nucleation and growth of defects. Also, high hydrostatic pressure can influence the mechanical behaviour of EMCs. The change in behaviour of EMCs due to the nucleation of cavitations under hydrostatic pressure is studied here to understand the mechanics underlying the damage mechanism. Two types of materials for pancake specimens are used in this study; natural rubber (NR) vulcanized and reinforced by carbon black and synthetic rubber (styrene‐butadiene‐rubber, SBR). In situ observations of uniaxial tension and torsion tests are also presented by using X‐ray computed tomography (CT) (medical scanner) and the results are compared with those from scanning electron microscopy (SEM).     

水下航行器空化噪声偏度和峰度分析

空化是水下高速航行器在进行总体设计时需要考虑的重要因素。对空化产生的噪声特性进行研究有助于水下航行器航行性能和目标检测能力的提高。文章首先介绍了空化噪声的形成机理和数学模型,然后基于实测数据对空化噪声相应的统计特性进行了分析,计算了典型的单个声脉冲形式的空化噪声的概率分布、偏度和峰度,对比分析了无空化发生与空化发展比较充分条件下实测空化噪声的偏度和峰度特性。结果表明,在空化充分发展时水下航行器空化噪声具有明显的非高斯特性,其偏度和峰度值明显大于理想高斯噪声或者实际的海洋环境噪声。有利于提高空化条件下水下航行器对目标辐射噪声检测的准确性以及检测系统的环境适应能力。     

Waste tire rubber in polymer blends: A review on the evolution,properties and future

This review addresses the progress in waste tire recycling with a particular attention to incorporation of waste tire rubber (WTR) into polymeric matrices. Methods of waste tire downsizing, importance of WTR characterization and current practice of WTR modification has been emphasized. Detailed discussion on influence of WTR size, loading, modification, compatibilization and crosslinking on the rheological, mechanical and thermal properties of rubber, thermoplastic and thermoplastic elastomer blends utilizing WTR has been reported. By far, thermoplastic elastomer blends; though still in its infancy; has shown the most promising properties balance which is capable of commercialization. Rubber/WTR blends also show ease of processing and acceptable properties. Thermoplastic/WTR blends suffers in term of toughness and elongation at break. However, the waste thermoplastic/WTR is a viable solution to address polymeric waste problem. Review also highlights the lack of studies concentrating on dynamic mechanical, aging, thermal and swelling properties of WTR polymeric blends.     

Mechanical properties and microstructure of SiC-reinforced Mg-(2,4)Al-1Si nanocomposites fabricated by ultrasonic cavitation based solidification processing

Nano-sized SiC enhanced magnesium matrix nanocomposites, Mg-2Al-1SiC with 2% SiC and Mg-4Al-1Si with 2% SiC, were successfully fabricated by ultrasonic cavitation based dispersion of SiC nanoparticles in Mg-(2,4)Al-1Si magnesium alloy melts. As compared to the magnesium alloy matrixes, the mechanical properties including tensile strength and yield strength of the Mg-2Al-1Si/2% SiC and Mg-4Al-1Si/2% SiC nanocomposites were improved significantly, while the ductility of magnesium alloy matrix castings was retained. While there were some SiC micro-clusters in the microstructure of nanocomposites, the SiC nanoparticles were dispersed well outside the areas of micro-clusters. Most micro-clusters were located along the grain boundaries while most separate SiC nanoparticles were embedded inside the grains. TEM study of the interface between SiC nanoparticles and Mg-(2,4)Al-1Si metal matrixes suggested that SiC bonds well with the metal matrixes without forming an intermediate phase.     

单频超声和双频复合超声的空化效应实验研究

从超声电功率、超声作用时间和溶液温度来研究超声的空化效应,采用碘化钾溶液中碘的释放量来测定超声的空化产额,研究结果表明：在相同的电功率输入情况下,双频复合超声（25kHz/40kHz）释放碘的量远大于单频25kHz超声和单频40kHz超声释放的碘的量,双频复合超声的空化产额高于单频超声。     

Constitutive behaviour of crushed ice

In ice-structure interaction, a zone of highly damaged ice is created near the structure surface. The crushed material of this zone has large ductility and is subjected to complex load and deformation histories. In this paper, various aspects of constitutive modelling of this material are discussed. The changes in microstructures such as cracks and grain boundaries are modelled by a damage function, while change in the porosity is modelled by a solution for creeping solids. Various components of deformation, i.e., the elastic, the delayed elastic, and the viscous creep are separately identified, and their changes with the damage and porosity are discussed. Comparison of theory and experiments are given for constant strain rate and constant stress test on crushed ice under triaxial conditions. Pressure sintering and compaction of crushed ice due to shear stresses are also studied. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A Study of Environmentally Friendly Titanium Pretreatments for Adhesive Bonding to a Thermoplastic Composite

The increased use of fibre reinforced polymer composites for aircraft structures have highlighted the need for reliable methods of bonding these materials to metallic components such as titanium. There is also a need for a simple test to evaluate adhesive bonds with dissimilar substrates, while under load and in a variety of environments. In this study the Boeing wedge test has been adapted for use with metal to composite adhesive bonds. A flexural rigidity matching approach was used with the addition of a backing beam to the composite coupon. The titanium adherends were surface pre‐treated using novel environmental benign methods, namely argon gas plasma and silicon sputtering. Sodium hydroxide anodisation, which is currently used industrially and alumina grit blasting were used as benchmarks. The composite, glass fire reinforced polyphenylene sulphide was alumina grit blasted. An environmental cycle was used to mimic a typical aircraft service cycle; joints were subjected to 24‐hour cycles of ambient, 60 °C water immersion, 60 °C dry and –55 °C dry for 12 days. Crack propagation and locus of failure were monitored after each cycle.     

Wear behaviour of an aluminium matrix composite

The wear behaviour of a composite material consisting in AS12UNG alloy reinforced with 15% short fibres of alumina has been studied. The material composition and the wear test conditions were defined in order to evaluate the potential performance of automotive pistons produced with such composite composition. As initially expected, the results indicate that an increase in the sliding velocity lead to higher wear rates in the stationary stages, and higher applied loads also induced acceleration in the wear process. Also, reciprocating sliding movement is clearly more damaging than the circular. However, results have shown that wear rates at 150 °C are lower than those recorded at room temperature representing a promising result for the use of this material in components that operate in this condition. This advantageous behaviour is lost at temperatures near to 300 °C, when a marked increase in the wear rate and a signification contribution of adhesive wear were observed.     

多角形非晶粉/硅橡胶复合薄膜压磁性能研究

分别以FeCuNbSiB和FeSiB非晶粉为粉体与硅橡胶复合,制成具有压磁效应的复合薄膜。利用4284A阻抗分析仪对两种薄膜的压磁特性进行了研究。研究表明,非晶FeCuNbSiB粉体/硅橡胶和FeSiB粉体/硅橡胶复合薄膜均具有良好的压磁性能,对于FeCuNbSiB粉体/硅橡胶复合薄膜,在压应力<0.6MPa,频率低于200kHz的条件下,压磁效应敏感;对于FeSiB粉体/硅橡胶复合薄膜在0～1.45MPa内,薄膜的压磁效应变化幅度比较均匀;薄膜中粉体含量越高,复合薄膜的压磁效应越大,当含量为83.3%(质量分数)时,压磁性能最好;相同条件下,以FeCuNb-SiB为粉体制成的复合薄膜的压磁性能优于以FeSiB为粉体制成的薄膜的压磁性能。     

Influence of thermal residual stresses on the composite macroscopic behavior

The influence of the thermal residual stress on the deformation behavior of a composite has been analyzed with a new micromechanical method. The method is based on secant moduli approximation and a new homogenized effective stress to characterize the plastic state of the matrix. It is found that the generated thermal residual stresses after cooling and their influence on the subsequent deformation behavior depends significantly on the aspect ratio of the inclusions. With prolate inclusions, the presence of thermal residual stresses generate a higher compressive hardening curves of the composite, but it is reversed with oblate inclusions. For particle reinforced composite, thermal residual stresses induce a tensile hardening curve higher than the compressive one and this is in agreement with experimental observations.     

Crushing behaviour of the energy absorbing 'tensor skin' panels

ABSTRACT Research results concerning the simulation of the crushing behaviour of composite systems with energy absorption characteristics are presented in the present work. The study is focused on the ‘tensor skin’ concept, an energy absorbing composite system that was originally developed to improve the crashworthiness of helicopters under water impact and which is promising for utilization in the construction of the lower part of composite fuselage aircraft. The ‘tensor skin’ concept comprises a folded or corrugated composite construction, which upon loading unfolds by forming ‘plastic hinges’, leading to an increase in the load bearing capability of the structure. The numerical modelling issues and the critical aspects of the simulation are discussed. Verification of the numerical simulation procedure is performed by experimental work. The experimental results utilized to assess and validate the numerical procedure were derived within the European Research Project ‘Design for Crash Survivability – CRASURV’ (BRITE – Aeronautics Area). The results of the simulations are generally in good agreement with experimental data.     

Influence of adhesive fillets on fatigue behaviour of single-strap composite repairs

The objective of this work is to analyse the influence of adhesive fillets on the fatigue/fracture behaviour of single-strap adhesive repairs of carbon-epoxy composites. A cohesive zone model (CZM) appropriate for high-cycle fatigue analysis was employed. A preliminary model validation was performed using results ensuing from experimental testing of single-strap adhesive repairs without fillets. Subsequently, the numerical model was used to investigate the effect of outer, inner and both (outer and inner) fillets on the quasi-static strengths and on the fatigue lives of these repairs. It was concluded that inner fillets provide the best option concerning the increase of fatigue life or a maximum fatigue load for a given planned service-life of the repaired component.     

Study of dynamic and mechanical behaviour of SiCp/Al composite under tensile impact

In this paper, using our own design of bar-bar tensile impact apparatus with a high speed rotating disk, we have performed an experimental study of Al alloys with SiC particles (V ₀=10%) in the strain-rate range from 100 s^–1 to 1000 s^–1. The complete stress-strain curves of the composite under tensile impact was obtained. On the basis of our experimental results, we studied the initial dynamic behaviour of the composite and derived a one-dimensional macro-constitutive equation for the composite under tensile impact by using the elastic-viscoplastic constitutive theory.Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China