Papers by Keyword: CFRP

Abstract: For structural health of mechanical structures, non-destructive detection and material defect characterization represent the main useful tools for mechanical decay prediction caused by local composite damage phenomena. In this work, internal delamination due to alternate bending were characterized in flat specimens, performing fatigue and static tests, coupled with thermographic, optical, and ultrasonic analysis for damage detection and evolution purposes. Damage to rupture behavior of CFRP material through mechanical tensile tests is performed on several samples and non-destructive inspection procedures are optimized during successive HCF tests to detect in real time local compliance variations and damage initiation. Thermographic continuous monitoring and occasional ultrasonic analysis are implemented to analyze composite anomalies during fatigue life and to elaborate a procedure for identification of delamination induced damage before failure. IRT and UT results are computed with MATLAB analysis for damage evaluation with strain and compliance data acquired during tests.

Abstract: The study aims to explore the preparation of aviation mechanical carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) and the properties of CFRP composites. Taking the aero box body as an example, the mechanical properties of CFRP are studied. The preparation of CFRP is analyzed by searching the data. CFRP plates are explored according to the stress analysis of composite materials. The finite element analysis software ANSYS Workbench and UG software are adopted to build the 3D model of the aero box body. After adding materials in ANSYS Workbench and simplifying the UG model, the finite element analysis of the model is carried out by computer. The 3D model of the aero box is constructed, the finite element analysis of the aero box is carried out, and the mechanical properties of CFRP are explored. In this study, the possibility of the practical application of CFRP in the aviation box body lightweight is clarified, which gives a direction for the subsequent actual molding and guides the application of CFRP in aviation field.

Abstract: It is important to improve dynamic performance of rotating machinery by reducing the mass of shaft and increasing the natural frequency. Many studies have focused on dynamic characteristics of shaft in rotating machinery with the utilization of composite material. This paper mainly investigates the structural design and dynamic analysis of a CFRP/Metal hybrid shaft. The finite element method (FEM) has been used to determine the selection of design variables include fiber orientation angle, layers stacking sequence and layers thickness. Also, experimental test was carried out using a FFT analyzer with impact hammers. The differences between the FEM analysis result and the experiment test result were respectively less than 4.5% and 6.3% for the first two natural frequencies; therefore, the results of FEM analysis are acceptable. The results reveal that the fiber orientation angle is the most significant factor affecting the dynamic characteristics of CFRP/Metal hybrid shaft. In addition, there have some effect of the layer stacking sequence on natural frequency.

Abstract: Steel structures are commonly used in seismic regions of the world because of its strength and ductility. However, these structures are still prone to damage during an earthquake. With this risk of seismic damage, the strengthening of steel structures is a major concern in order to resist the dynamic loads resulted from earthquakes. This report investigates the potential for the use of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) to strengthen the rigid steel frame under a real earthquake load. This research will be undertaken using Strand7, a finite element (FE) analysis software. To validate the accuracy of this research, the finite analysis results have been compared to the available experimental study by the Authors. First, both FE models of a five-story bare steel frame and CFRP strengthened steel frame has been developed. Then the predicted numerical results of bare steel frame and CFRP strengthened steel frame under earthquake excitation are compared. The results indicated an increase in the seismic performance of the steel structure due to the strengthened with CFRP. The CFRP strengthened steel frame showed 15% less tip deflection compared to bare steel frame. Further analysis on the strengthening capabilities of higher thickness CFRP was performed to assess the effect of the thickness of CFRP and the higher thickness CFRP showed better seismic performance compare to normal thickness CFRP by reducing 34.38% of tip deflection.

Abstract: In order to explore the flexural behavior of CFRP reinforced pre-stressed concrete (PC) beams with initial cracks, 6 pre-tensioned beams were manufactured. Then the beams were pre-loaded to crack with 40% and 60% ultimate load respectively, and the beams were strengthened by CFRP under the conditions of load holding and fully unloaded. After that, the four-points bending tests were performed, and beam section strains, flexural capacities and cracks were analyzed. The results demonstrate that the ultimate load of CFRP reinforced beams increased by 10%~18%, and the ultimate loads of CFRP reinforced load holding beams were 3% and 6% lower than that of CFRP reinforced non-destructive beam, and the inhibiting effect of CFRP on cracks was weakened, the hysteresis strains should be considered for them. In this paper, the fiber hysteresis strains were calculated by the method of full section decompression moment, and the flexural capacities of CFRP reinforced PC beams were calculated, which are in good agreement with the test results.

Abstract: The safety work of historical and monumental building heritage requires the use of innovative materials compatible with the high architectural value. The Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRP) represent a valid alternative to traditional ones, and the carbon fiber sheets are very light and easy to glue to the masonry structures. However, the durability of the application of FRP sheets is still uncertain in the long time behavior, especially with regard to cyclic fatigue loads such as seismic ones. In this work an experimental analysis on a set of strengthened masonry walls under fatigue tests (loading and freezing-thawing test) has been carried out in order to evaluate creep effects. During cyclic tests in the laboratory it was possible to monitor the damage pattern through the acoustic emission (AE) technique. The AE monitoring is useful to estimate the amount of energy released from fracture propagation in the adherence surface between masonry and FRP sheet. The different phases of damage evolution are recognized through the analysis of AE data over time. In particular, the time dependence of AE counting number is useful to indicate the beginning of the unstable damage growth and predicts the possible failure of the specimens at the 80% of the test duration. Furthermore, a sudden decay in the AE frequency is detected during the last phase of the fatigue tests. These results illustrate the applicability and the advantages of AE technique for the monitoring of long-term damage growth in strengthened masonry.

Abstract: The use of clay hollow blocks is common for new constructions in many parts of Europe. The results of 8 full-scale shear tests of block-masonry panels (dimensions 1.60x0.90x0.25 m) are reported in this paper. Non-defective and defective wall panels were tested in shear in the laboratory. Typical failure modes are investigated, not previously reported in the scientific literature. Test results show that the lateral load capacity of the panels is highly affected by construction defects. Furthermore, CFRPs were used in this research as local reinforcement (repair) in the area around the cracks previously opened in the masonry material. The lateral capacity for CFRP-repaired panels was restored to the original value of non-defective panels, indicating that the CFRP-repair of cracked panels is viable solution. An explanation for this phenomenon is suggested, which indicates that the high tensile strength of CFRPs can be effective in repairing cracked block-masonry. It is also argued that this large stress level of the CFRPs leads to a premature tensile CFRP crisis or a splitting failure of the blocks’ shells.

Abstract: The present investigation aims at studying the effect of carbon nanotubes dispersion on the surface hardness of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites, manufactured by means of compression resin transfer molding. The influence of the weight fraction of nanofiller, distributed in the epoxy matrix, on the Vickers hardness values was investigated. Furthermore, the evaluation of carbon nanotubes filtering effect was also taken into account by comparing the hardness values measured at the top and bottom surfaces of the laminate composites. It was observed that the different weight loads affect the surface properties of the nano-composites, both in terms of hardness and filtering effect.

Abstract: In this paper the main focus is on analyzing the effect of various parameters like winding angle, winding pattern and fiber volume fraction on the stresses generation in a composite pressure vessel using Finite Element (FE) approach. The present study makes use of three different composite materials namely GFRP (Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic), CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic) and AFRP (Aramid Fiber Reinforced Plastic). Further they are compared with metallic pressure vessel (LCS-Low Carbon Steel, Al 6061-T6-Aluminium 6061-T6) to assess their potentiality as a substitute to metallic pressure vessels. Based on Maximum Specific Stress (MSS) results observations it is concluded that optimum parameters suggested for fabrication of pressure vessel are winding angle ±55^o, fiber volume fraction, V_f of 0.55 and winding pattern of ((±∅°₂)/90°₂/(±∅°₂)). Following AFRP, CFRP and GFRP provides better performance when compared with LCS and Al 6061 T6 based on MSS value. Considering the availability, cost and application factors it can be concluded that GFRP can be conveniently used as substitute for metallic pressure vessels.

Abstract: In this study, a through-the-thickness negative Poisson's ratio of an angle-ply carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) laminate is experimentally investigated using a 3D digital scanning method. For this, an image-based measurement method using a 3D digital scanner is developed to obtain the thickness change of CFRP laminates. The thickness change is used to calculate the through-the-thickness Poisson's ratio of CFRP laminates. Then, a tensile test of a [±θ°] angle-ply CFRP laminate is performed, and the through-the-thickness Poisson's ratio is measured based on the developed method. The results obtained suggest that the through-the-thickness Poisson's ratio exhibits negative values which become increasingly negative as (visco)plastic deformation progresses in the laminate, as demonstrated in our previous analysis.