Influence of winding angle on the strength and deformation of filament-wound composite tubes subjected to uniaxial and biaxial loads

Experimental data are presented to show the effects of winding angle on the strength of 100 mm diameter, 1 mm thick, filament wound E-glass fibre reinforced epoxy resin tubes tested under various combinations of internal pressure and axial tension or compression. Leakage and fracture strength envelopes are presented for ±45°, ±55° and ±75° winding angle tubes subjected to a wide range of different biaxial membrane stress states. Strengths range from 30 to 1250 MPa. Axial compression test results for tubes with wall thicknesses ranging from 1 to 3·6 mm establish the influence of shell buckling. Stress/strain curves up to fracture under three different types of loading show the effects of the winding angle on elastic constants and on nonlinear stress strain behaviour.     

The rate-dependent behaviour of ± 55 ° filament-wound glass-fibre/epoxy tubes under biaxial loading

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation into the behaviour of glass-fibre-reinforced epoxy tubes subjected to monotonic biaxial loading. Commercially available tubes with a filament winding pattern of ± 55 ° were tested in a biaxial testing machine with various ratios of axial stress to hoop stress. In addition, the tubes were tested at three rates of monotonic loading. The resulting stress/strain curves were analyzed and biaxial failure envelopes in terms of stress and strain were constructed demonstrating the complexity of the behaviour of the tubes. It is shown that the rate and ratio of biaxial loading affect the monotonic failure strength, damage accumulation and the mode of failure. In addition, these results are discussed based on macro and micro observations of damage and failure modes.     

Behaviour of steel-fibre-reinforced concretes under biaxial compression loads

In the case of metal fibre concretes under biaxial compression, the gain of strength yielded by metal fibres can be considerable. Using a biaxial press with brush bearing platens (to avoid lateral confinement), we verified this result and studied the behaviour of metal fibre concrete subjected to biaxial loadings. Two different types of fibres were used. The results obtained demonstrate the following points: the addition of fibres makes the material much more ductile; there is an influence of the type of fibre on mode of failure, a gain of strength and an influence of the orientation of the fibres.     

Fatigue behaviour of a box-welded joint under biaxial cyclic loading: effects of biaxial load range ratio and cyclic compressive loads in the lateral direction

ABSTRACT The biaxial fatigue of a steel plate (JIS SM400B) having a box‐welded (wrap‐around) joint was experimentally studied. Special concerns were focused on the effects of the biaxial load range ratio and compressive cyclic loading in the lateral direction. The direction of fatigue crack propagation under biaxial cyclic tensile loading, which has a phase difference of π, changed according to the biaxial load range ratio, R_xy = ΔP_x/ΔP_y. When R_xy was less than 0.56, fatigue cracks propagated along the toe of the weld in the x‐direction because the principal tensile stress range Δσ_y at that location exceeded the orthogonal value Δσ_x at the box‐weld toe. The fatigue lives in biaxial tests related well to the data from uniaxial tests when invoking the Δσ₅ criterion. However, the location and direction of Δσ₅ should be chosen according to the R_xy value and the failure crack direction. An increase in Δσ₅, as induced by the Poisson's ratio effect from either the out‐of‐phase tensile loading or the in‐phase compressive loading in the y‐direction, leads to an increase in fatigue damage (decrease in fatigue resistance or specifically a faster crack propagation rate), and this effect can be successfully estimated from uniaxial fatigue test data.     

A comparison of total fatigue life models for composite laminates

A total fatigue life model proposed previously by the same authors for laminated composite structures subjected to mode‐I fracture loading is evaluated by two newer models. The new models differ from the original model by normalization factor and approximation of stable delamination growth rate equation. All three models include the delamination growth in subcritical (delamination initiation), linear (stable growth) and final (unstable growth) fracture domains. All three models were evaluated by comparing the total life predictions for two different block loadings. One is a normal operation of a rotor craft‐type structure and the other is an aggressive loading. Predicted results of the three models were compared with each other and with the experimental data. The material considered was woven‐roving E‐glass fibre and vinyl ester matrix and the laminate was made by vacuum assisted resin transfer molding.     

Progressive failure analysis of laminated composite with hole under flexural loading

Abstract

Understanding the progressive failure of laminated composite plays an important role in the structural integrity analysis of a structure. Continuum damage mechanics-based approach is one of the powerful tools to analyze the failure of laminated composite structures. The present paper investigates the damage evolution and progression in laminated composites with a hole under flexural loading. The presence of high-stress concentrations along with the free edge stresses at the vicinity of the hole in laminated composite leads to complex failure mechanisms. The influence of the change in thickness and lamina configuration on the strength characteristics is presented.     

Evaluation of the residual strength degradation in composite laminates under fatigue loading

Residual strength degradation in graphite/epoxy composite laminates is evaluated and a model proposed relating the residual strength to the applied fatigue cycles and the maximum applied stress. Based on this model, the statistical distribution of the residual strength is derived and compared with available experimental data. Good agreement is observed between the proposed model and experimental results.     

Delamination prediction of composite filament wound vessel with metal liner under low velocity impact

Based on low velocity impact kinetic theory and corresponding damage criterion for the composite laminated structures, a 3-D incompatible, geometrically nonlinear finite element method was employed to investigate the impact mechanical behavior of the composite filament cylindrical vessel with metal liner with and without internal pressure and predict their damage distributions during and after impact. A modified Hertzian contact law was used to calculate the contact force between the impact body and impacted cylindrical vessel and a direct integral scheme-Newmark method was applied in time domain during impact analysis process. The damage styles and damage distributions of a typical vessel under different impact velocities are presented. From the numerical results, it is clear that the impact damage extent for composite filament wound vessel with internal pressure is more sever than that without internal pressure under low velocity impact case with same kinetic energy.     

Multiscale finite element modeling of failure process of composite laminates

A multiscale nonlinear finite element modeling technique is developed in this paper to predict the progressive failure process for composite laminates. A micromechanical elastic–plastic bridging constitutive model, which considers the nonlinear material properties of the constituent fiber and matrix materials and their interaction and the damage and failure in fibrous composites at the fiber and matrix level, is proposed to represent the material behavior of fiber-reinforced composite laminates. The micromechanics constitutive model is employed in the macroscale finite element analysis of structural behavior especially progressive failure process of the fiber-reinforced composites based on a 4-node 24-DOF shear-locking free rectangular composite plate element.     

热塑性复合材料层合板的层间应力与损伤机理

使用有限元生成软件FEPG和表征热塑性复合材料AS4/PEEK非线性行为和应变率相关行为的三维粘塑性模型,计算了复合材料角铺设层合板在单向拉伸时的界面层间应力.层间应力的三维分布图表明,AS4/PEEK对称角铺设层合板的层间剪应力在自由边缘处存在很明显的自由边缘效应;层间正应力也存在自由边缘效应,对于轴向拉伸,其在自由边缘处的值为负.随着铺设角的增大,自由边缘处二者的值均减小.层间应力存在端头效应,甚至比边缘效应还明显.随着铺设角的增大,层间应力在两端头处的值降低,层间正应力由压应力变为拉应力.主要由纤维控制的角铺设AS4/PEEK层合板,在自由边缘处较大的层间剪应力是引起其层间分层的主要原因;主要由基体控制的角铺设AS4/PEEK层合板,其首先产生的是面内应力破坏,而不是层间分层.     

Strength of carbon/epoxy composite single-lap bonded joints in various environmental conditions

Composite single-lap bonded joints were tested to study the combined effect of the environmental condition and the manufacturing method as they pertain to joint strength and failure conditions. Three different environmental conditions and four different manufacturing methods were considered. In terms of the manufacturing method, cocured joints without an adhesive (CCN) showed the highest strength in all environments. Comparing the effect of the environmental conditions, the elevated temperature and wet condition (ETW) gave the best results for all joints except co-bonded joints. In co-bonded joints, the highest strength was found in the cold temperature condition (CTD).     

Durability of hygrothermally aged graphite/epoxy woven composite under combined hygrothermal conditions

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of hygrothermal aging on the durability of a graphite/epoxy woven composite material system. The study was part of a larger project in which the objective was to evaluate and model the effects of moisture, temperature, and combined hygrothermal conditions on the strength and life of a graphite/epoxy woven composite material system. The results presented here represent an extension of the work by Patel and Case (Int. J. Fatigue 22 (2000) 809).

The hygrothermal aging consisted of cyclical temperature and moisture variations which were meant to simulate mission conditions for an advanced subsonic aircraft. Durability studies were carried out on the aged material system in the form of fatigue and residual strength testing under humid and elevated temperature environments. Damage mechanisms and failure modes were determined through fatigue testing, residual strength testing, and nondestructive evaluation.

Changes in physical appearance, thermal analysis results, fracture surfaces, and moisture diffusion behavior all supported the idea that the material was affected by the aging process. However, experimental testing also showed that the initial and residual tensile properties of the aged material were virtually unaffected by the imposed environmental aging (as compared to unaged material testing results), except when tested at elevated temperature. At elevated temperature, both the dynamic stiffness and residual strength were noticeably reduced from that at room temperature.     

Analytical and experimental studies on the low-velocity impact response and damage of composite laminates under in-plane loads with structural damping effects

In this paper, low-velocity impact response and damage of composite laminates under in-plane loads are analytically and experimentally investigated. The authors recently proposed a modified displacement field of plate theory, considering the effect of initially loaded in-plane strain, and used a finite element program to analyze the structural behavior of the composite laminate. In this study, the program is upgraded to account for the structural damping effect of the laminate. A pendulum type impact test system and an in-plane loading fixture are constructed for the experimental study. The analytical and experimental impact behaviors are compared at different impact energy levels for cases with an initial in-plane tensile load and a compressive load, as well as cases without the initial in-plane load. The results show good correspondence between the analytical and experimental impact force histories. The effect of the initial in-plane load reduces for higher impact energies. The numerical estimation of the damaged area is in good agreement with the results from C-scanning experiments.     

Characterization of fatigue crack initiation and growth in hybrid aluminium–graphite fibre composite laminates using image analysis

Hybrid aluminum–graphite-epoxy fibre–metal laminates have been tested in open hole tension–tension fatigue at several stress levels. Crack initiation and growth in the outer aluminum layers was monitored by periodic digital imaging of the specimen surface. Image analysis was used to determine the crack length throughout the experiment. Crack growth results were consistent between specimens for each test configuration. A relationship between the crack growth results and stress level was developed using linear elastic fracture mechanics; this successfully characterized the data. The effect of shot peening and alternate hole finishing techniques were considered for fatigue behaviour improvement.     

Fracture strength of various lay-ups of carbon/epoxy laminates using the modified inherent flaw model

Modifications are made in the inherent flaw model of Waddoups, Eisenman and Kaminski (known as the WEK model) for accurate prediction of notched tensile strength of composite laminates containing a sharp notch. To examine the adequacy of the model, fracture data of center cracked carbon/epoxy composite laminates with various lay-ups are considered. The notched strength estimates are found to be close to the test results.     

Fatigue analysis of unidirectional GFRP composites under combined bending and torsional loads

Fatigue behavior of unidirectional glass fiber reinforced polyester (GFRP) composites at room temperature under in-phase combined torsion/bending loading was investigated. All fatigue tests were carried out on constant-deflection fatigue machine with frequency of 25 Hz. A 30% reduction from the initial applied moments was taken as a failure criterion in the combined torsion/bending fatigue tests of the composite materials. A series of pure torsional fatigue tests were conducted to construct the failure contour of GFRP composites using different failure theories. The obtained S–N curves from combined torsion/bending tests were compared with both, pure torsion fatigue test results and published results of pure bending fatigue tests of GFRP rods. Pictures by scanning electron microscope were used to closely examine the failure mode of the tested specimens under combined torsion/bending loading.

The results showed that, the unidirectional glass fiber reinforced polyester composites have poor torsional fatigue strength compared with the published results of pure bending fatigue strength. Endurance limit value (calculated from S–N equation at N = 10⁷ cycles) of GFRP specimens tested under combined torsion/bending loading equals 8.5 times the endurance limit of pure torsion fatigue. On the other hand the endurance limit of combined torsion/bending fatigue strength approximately half the fatigue limit of pure bending fatigue strength. The predicted values of combined torsion/bending fatigue strength at different number of cycles, using the published failure theory are in good agreement with the experimental data. For the investigated range of fiber volume fractions (V_f) it was found that higher stress levels are needed to produce fatigue failure after the same number of cycles as V_f increases.     

Effect of fibre/matrix adhesion on residual strength of notched composite laminates

Effects of fibre/matrix adhesion and residual strength of notched polymer matrix composite laminates (PMCLs) and fibre reinforced metal laminates (FRMLs) were investigated. Two different levels of adhesion between fibre and matrix were achieved by using the same carbon fibres with or without surface treatments. After conducting short-beam shear and transverse tension tests for fibre/matrix interface characterisation, residual strength tests were performed for PMCLs and FRMLs containing a circular hole/sharp notch for the two composite systems. It was found that laminates with poor interfacial adhesion between fibre and matrix exhibit higher residual strength than those with strong fibre/matrix adhesion. Major failure mechanisms and modes in two composite systems were studied using SEM fractography. The effective crack growth model (ECGM) was also applied to simulate the residual strength and damage growth of notched composite laminates with different fibre/matrix adhesion. Predictions from the ECGM were well correlated with experimental data.     

Effect of Temperature on the Tensile Strength and Failure Modes of Angle Ply CFRP Tubes under Hoop Loading

A comprehensive study was undertaken to characterise carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) tubes at different temperatures. Quasi-static burst tests were performed on tubes of 25°, 55° and 75° winding angle. The tubes were burst under internal radial pressure with minimum end constraints. An experimental rig and two conditioning tanks were designed and built to test the specimens at three temperatures; -46°C (low temperature), +20°C (room temperature) and +70°C (high temperature). For each test the internal pressure and the strains in both circumferential and longitudinal directions were recorded using a digital processing equipment.For a particular batch of tubes, tested at three different temperatures, a decrease in hoop strength and modulus of the 55° tubes with increasing temperature was recorded; the effect was less pronounced on the properties of 25° and 75° tubes. The use of a non-structural liner during the tests led to higher ultimate strength and strain of 55° tubes but had negligible effects on the behaviour of 75° tubes. The use of a liner in 25° tubes altered the mode of failure, resulting in a very large tube deformation with no noticeable increase in burst pressure. Micrographic analysis was also undertaken to study the failure mechanisms during pressurisation of lined and unlined tubes.     

Load‐bearing capacity of slender unreinforced masonry compression members under biaxial bending

Dedicated to Prof. Dr.‐Ing. Carl‐Alexander Graubner on the occasion of his 60th birthday Masonry members have to resist vertical loads and bending moments about the weak axis due to rotation of adjacent slabs. If the compression member is part of the bracing system, there are also bending moments about the strong axis. This paper deals with the load‐bearing capacity of biaxially eccentrically compressed unreinforced compression members with rectangular cross‐sections. For linear‐elastic material, the principles of an analytical model is presented, which considers geometrical and physical (cracking) non‐linearity. The deflections of the wall can be determined by using moment‐curvature relations, making possible the analytical analysis of compression members considering the effects of 2nd order theory. For a non‐linear stress‐strain relation, the calculation of the load carrying capacity of rectangular compression members under biaxial bending is complex and has to be determined numerically. The good accordance of the results of the analytical model with the numeric calculations is also shown for various eccentricities. In addition, a simplified proposal for the calculation of the load‐bearing capacity of biaxially eccentrically compressed unreinforced compression members is shown. The proposal is based on the load‐bearing capacity of uniaxially eccentrically compressed unreinforced compression members. Therefore it is possible to use the proposal considering existing models, for example according to Eurocode 2 or 6.     

Design of Fibre Reinforced Composite Structures Subjected to High Strain Rates Using Finite Element Analysis

A finite element analysis of fibre reinforced plastic tubes subjected to a dynamic internal pressure pulse is performed using the ABAQUS finite element program. The effects of strain rate on the ply properties, the nonlinearity of the stress-strain curves, failure and post-failure theories are incorporated in the analysis. The results of the analysis show good agreement with the experimental stress-strain and strain-time results for 45° and 65° Kevlar fibre reinforced epoxy (KRP) tubes.