Browsing by Author "Farley, Gary L."
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- Energy-absorption capability of composite tubes and beamsFarley, Gary L. (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1989)In this study, the objective was to develop a method of predicting the energy-absorption capability of composite subfloor beam structures. Before it is possible to develop such an analysis capability, an in-depth understanding of the crushing process of composite materials must be achieved. Many variables affect the crushing process of composite structures, such as the constituent materials’ mechanical properties, specimen geometry, and crushing speed. A comprehensive experimental evaluation of tube specimens was conducted to develop insight into how composite structural elements crush and what are the controlling mechanisms In this study, the four characteristic crushing modes, transverse shearing, brittle fracturing, lamina bending, and local buckling were identified and the mechanisms that control the crushing process defined. An in-depth understanding was developed of how material properties, affect energy-absorption capability. For example, an increase in fiber and matrix stiffness and failure strain can, depending upon the configuration of the tube, increase energy-absorption capability. An analysis to predict the energy-absorption capability of composite tube specimens was developed and verified. Good agreement between experiment and prediction was obtained. Sine-wave and integrally stiffened composite beams were evaluated. Composite energy-absorbing beams crush in modes similar to tubular specimens that are made from the same material and have similar geometry. Energy-absorption trends of the composite beams are similar to energy-absorption trends from composite tube specimens. Composite beams are equal or superior energy absorbers to comparable geometry metallic beams. Finally, a simple and accurate method of predicting the energy-absorption capability of composite beams was developed. This analysis is based upon the energy-absorption capability of the beams’ constituent elements.
- The Influence of Reinforcement Architecture on the Fracture Behavior of Selectively Reinforced MaterialsAbada, Christopher H. (Virginia Tech, 2006-05-12)A computer-based parametric study of the effect of reinforcement architectures on fracture response of aluminum compact-tension (CT) specimens was performed using the finite element code ABAQUS. A three-dimensional crack propagation procedure based on the crack tip opening angle (CTOA) was developed using Python. Eleven different reinforcement architectures consisting of rectangular and triangular cross-section reinforcements were evaluated. Reinforced specimens produced between 13 and 28 percent higher fracture load than achieved with the non-reinforced case. Reinforcements with blunt leading edges (rectangular reinforcements) exhibited superior performance relative to the triangular reinforcements with sharp leading edges. Relative to the rectangular reinforcements, the most important architectural feature was reinforcement thickness. At failure, the reinforcements carried between 58 and 85 percent of the load applied to the specimen, suggesting that there is considerable load transfer between the base material and the reinforcement. The amount of load transfer is linked to strains experienced by the reinforcement ahead of the crack tip.