Papers by Author: Jui Ching Kuo

Abstract: This research aims to investigate strain rate effect on the out of plane shear strength of unidirectional fiber composites. Both glass/epoxy and graphite/epoxy composites were considered in this study. To demonstrate strain rate effect, composite brick specimens were fabricated and tested to failure in the transverse direction at strain ranges from 10-4/s to 700/s. Experimental observations reveal that the main failure mechanism of the specimens is the out of plane shear failure taking place on the plane oriented around 30 to 35 degree to the loading direction. The corresponding out-of-plane shear strength was obtained from the uniaxial failure stress through Mohr-Coulomb strength analysis. In addition, the associated shear strain rate on the failure plane was calculated through the coordinate transformation law. Results show that the out-plane shear strength increases with the increment of the shear train rates. A semi-logarithmic function expressed in terms of the normalized shear strain rate was employed to describe the rate dependence of the out-plane shear strength.

Abstract: This research aims to investigate strain rate effect on transverse compressive strength of unidirectional fiber composites. Both glass/epoxy and graphite/epoxy composites were taken into account in this study. To demonstrate strain rate effect, composite brick specimens were fabricated and tested to failure in the transverse direction at strain rate ranges from 10-4/s to 500/s. For strain rate less than 1/s, the experiments were conducted by a hydraulic MTS machine. However, the higher strain rate tests were performed using a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB). Experimental observations reveal that the transverse compressive strengths increase corresponding to the increment of the strain rates. A semi-logarithmic function was employed to describe the rate sensitivity of the transverse compressive strength. SEM photographic on the failure surfaces depicts that for glass/epoxy composites, the failure mechanism is mainly due to the matrix shear failure, however, for the graphite/epoxy composites, it becomes the fiber and epoxy interfacial debonding which could dramatically reduce the transverse compressive strengths of the fiber composites.

Abstract: This research is aimed to fabricate glass fiber/epoxy nanocomposites containing organoclay as well as to understand the organoclay effect on the in-plane shear strength of the nanocomposites. To demonstrate the organoclay effect, three different loadings of organoclay, were dispersed in the epoxy resin using mechanical mixer followed by sonication. The corresponding glass/epoxy nanocomposites were prepared by impregnating the organoclay epoxy mixture into the dry glass fiber through a vacuum hand lay-up process. Off-axis block glass/epoxy nanocomposites were tested in compression to produce in-plane shear failure. It is noted only the specimens showing in-plane shear failure mode were concerned in this study. Through coordinate transformation law, the uniaxial failure stresses were then converted to a plot of shear stress versus transverse normal stress from which the in-plane shear strength was obtained. Experimental results showed that the fiber/epoxy nanocomposite exhibit higher in-plane shear strength than the conventional composites. This increased property could be ascribed to the enhanced fiber/matrix adhesion promoted by the organoclay.