Analysis and Modeling of the Mechanical Durability of Proton Exchange Membranes Using Pressure-Loaded Blister Tests

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorGrohs, Jacob R.en
dc.contributor.committeechairCase, Scott W.en
dc.contributor.committeememberEllis, Michael W.en
dc.contributor.committeememberDillard, David A.en
dc.contributor.departmentEngineering Science and Mechanicsen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T21:34:18Zen
dc.date.adate2009-05-29en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T21:34:18Zen
dc.date.issued2009-04-10en
dc.date.rdate2009-05-29en
dc.date.sdate2009-04-22en
dc.description.abstractEnvironmental fluctuations in operating fuel cells impose significant biaxial stresses in the constrained proton exchange membranes (PEM). The PEM's ability to withstand cyclic environment-induced stresses plays an important role in membrane integrity and consequently, fuel cell durability. In this thesis, pressure loaded blister tests are used to study the mechanical durability of Gore-Select® series 57 over a range of times, temperatures, and loading histories. Ramped pressure tests are used with a linear viscoelastic analog to Hencky's classical solution for a pressurized circular membrane to estimate biaxial burst strength values. Biaxial strength master curves are constructed using traditional time-temperature superposition principle techniques and the associated temperature shift factors show good agreement when compared with shifts obtained from other modes of testing on the material. Investigating a more rigorous blister stress analysis becomes nontrivial due to the substantial deflections and thinning of the membrane. To further improve the analysis, the digital image correlation (DIC) technique is used to measure full-field displacements under ramped and constant pressure loading. The measured displacements are then used to validate the constitutive model and methods of the finite element analysis (FEA). With confidence in the FEA, stress histories of constant pressure tests are used to develop linear damage accumulation and residual strength based lifetime prediction models. Robust models, validated by successfully predicting fatigue failures, suggest the ability to predict failures under any given stress history whether mechanically or environmentally induced - a critical step in the effort to predict fuel cell failures caused by membrane mechanical failure.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.identifier.otheretd-04222009-192729en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-04222009-192729/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/42180en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartGrohs_Jacob_Thesis.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectlifetime prediction modelen
dc.subjectFinite element methoden
dc.subjectdigital image correlationen
dc.subjectpressure-loaded blister testen
dc.subjectproton exchange membraneen
dc.titleAnalysis and Modeling of the Mechanical Durability of Proton Exchange Membranes Using Pressure-Loaded Blister Testsen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineEngineering Science and Mechanicsen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Grohs_Jacob_Thesis.pdf
Size:
1.99 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download

Collections

Masters Theses