Damage mechanics and energy absorption capabilities of naturalfiber reinforced elastomeric based bio composite for sacrificial structural applications

The present study deals with the experimental, finite element (FE) and analytical assessment of low ballistic impact response of proposedflexible'green' composite make use of naturally available jute and rubber as the constituents of the composite with stacking sequences namely jute/rubber/jute (JRJ), jute/rubber/rubber/jute (JRRJ) and jute/rubber/jute/rubber/jute (JRJRJ). Ballistic impact tests were carried out by firing a conical projectile using a gas gun apparatus at lower range of ballistic impact regime. The ballistic impact response of the proposed flexible composites are assesses based on energy absorption and damage mechanism. Results revealed that inclusion of natural rubber aids in better energy ab-sorption and mitigating the failure of the proposed composite. Among the three different stacking se-quences of flexible composites considered, JRJRJ provides better ballistic performance compared to its counterparts. The damage study reveals that the main mechanism of failure involved in flexible com-posites is matrix tearing as opposed to matrix cracking in stiff composites indicating that the proposedflexible composites are free from catastrophic failure. Results obtained from experimental, FE and analytical approach pertaining to energy absorption and damage mechanism agree well with each other. The proposed flexible composites due to their exhibited energy absorption capabilities and damage mechanism are best suited as claddings for structural application subjected to impact with an aim of protecting the main structural component from being failed catastrophically.     

碳纤维强度的统计特性及对复合材料线芯力学性能的影响

测试了国产T300级碳纤维的单丝和复丝拉伸强度,并用Weibull分布来描述碳纤维单丝平均拉伸强度。采用拉挤工艺制备出国产碳纤维复合线芯,测试了国产碳纤维复合线芯的弯曲强度和短梁剪切强度性能。结果表明:国产T300级碳纤维单丝拉伸强度性能达到东丽T300碳纤维水平,且分散性更小;复丝强度略低。国产T300级碳纤维集束性较差,在拉挤抽纱过程中,容易夹纱和起毛。在纤维体积含量基本相同情况下,国产T300级碳纤维复合线芯力学性能与东丽T700碳纤维复合线芯力学性能相差不大。     

用溶胶-凝胶法制备碳纤维三维编织物增强氧化铝基复合材料的研究

本文研究了溶胶－凝胶（Ｓｏｌ－ｇｅｌ）法制备碳纤维三维编织物增强氧化铝（Ａｌ２Ｏ３）基复合材料的成型工艺及其力学性能，研究了两种主要起始物Ａｌ（ＮＯ３）３、ＡｌＣｌ３配制的氧化铝溶胶对复合材料成型工艺和力学性能的影响。分别以Ａｌ（ＮＯ３）３和ＡｌＣｌ３为起始物，制备得到Ⅰ＃、Ｉ＃复合材料。研究表明，以Ａｌ（ＮＯ３）３为起始物配制的溶胶粘度较小，利于材料的致密化。经过溶胶浸渍、凝胶、裂解１３个周期后，Ⅰ＃材料的密度和室温三点弯曲强度分别为１．８６ｇ／ｃｍ３和１４５．２ＭＰａ，而ＩＩ＃材料的密度和室温三点弯曲强度分别为１．６３ｇ／ｃｍ３和１０４．１ＭＰａ，材料均呈典型的韧性断裂模式。用扫描电子显微镜（ＳＥＭ）观察试样的断口形貌，发现断口表面有大量的纤维拔出，纤维表现了较好的增韧效果。     

添加SiC微粉对硅树脂先驱体转化3D Cf/Si-O-C材料性能的影响

以三维碳纤维织物和廉价的硅树脂为原料,采用先驱体转化工艺制备3D G/Si-O-C材料,考察了浸渍液中添加SiC填料对材料微观结构、力学性能和抗氧化性能影响.结果表明:添加适量的SiC填料有助于减少基体孔隙,改善界面结合,从而提高材料的力学性能;而SiC含量过高时,容易在材料内部形成闭孔,从而导致材料力学性能下降.当SiC微粉含量为18.2%时,材料具有最好的力学性能,弯曲强度和断裂韧度分别为421.3MPa和13.0 MPa·m1/2;而材料的抗氧化性能随着SiC微粉含量的增加而增加,当SiC微粉含量为25.0%时,材料的弯曲强度保留率最高,达到了89.5%.     

Investigation of the mechanical and ballistic properties of hybrid carbon/ aramid woven laminates

High-performance ballistic fibers, such as aramid fiber and ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), are commonly used in anti-ballistic structures due to their low density, high tensile strength and high specific modulus. However, their low modulus in the thickness direction and insufficient shear strength limits their application in certain ballistic structure. In contrast, carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin matrix composites (CFRP) have the characteristics of high modulus in the thickness direction and high shear resistance. However, carbon fibers are rarely used and applied for protection purposes. A hybridization with aramid fiber reinforced epoxy resin matrix composites (AFRP) and CFRP has the potential to improve the stiffness and the ballistic property of the typical ballistic fiber composites. The hybrid effects on the flexural property and ballistic performance of the hybrid CFRP/AFRP laminates were investigated. Through conducting mechanical property tests and ballistic tests, two sets of reliable simulation parameters for AFRP and CFRP were established using LS-DYNA software, respectively. The experimental results suggested that by increasing the content of CFRP that the flexural properties of hybrid CFRP/AFRP laminates were enhanced. The ballistic tests’ results and the simulation illustrated that the specific energy absorption by the perforation method of CFRP achieved 77.7% of AFRP. When CFRP was on the striking face, the shear resistance of the laminates and the resistance force to the projectiles was promoted at the initial penetration stage. The proportion of fiber tensile failures in the AFRP layers was also enhanced with the addition of CFRP during the penetration process. These improvements resulted in the ballistic performance of hybrid CFRP/AFRP laminates was better than AFRP when the CFRP content was 20 wt% and 30 wt%.     

Influence of Al2O3 particles on the microstructure and mechanical properties of copper surface composites fabricated by friction stir processing

The influence of three factors, such as volume percentage of reinforcement particles (i.e. Al₂O₃), tool tilt angle and concave angle of shoulder, on the mechanical properties of Cu–Al₂O₃ surface composites fabricated via friction stir processing was studied. Taguchi method was used to optimize these factors for maximizing the mechanical properties of surface composites. The fabricated surface composites were examined by optical microscope for dispersion of reinforcement particles. It was found that Al₂O₃ particles are uniformly dispersed in the stir zone. The tensile properties of the surface composites increased with the increase in the volume percentage of the Al₂O₃ reinforcement particles. This is due to the addition of the reinforcement particles which increases the temperature of recrystallization by pinning the grain boundaries of the copper matrix and blocking the movement of the dislocations. The observed mechanical properties are correlated with microstructure and fracture features.     

T300和JC2#纤维增强C/SiC复合材料力学性能对比

以聚碳硅烷(PCS)为先驱体,采用聚合物浸渍裂解法(PIP)分别制备得到T300碳纤维和JC2#碳纤维增强C/SiC复合材料。JC2#C/SiC复合材料具有优异的力学性能,抗弯强度和断裂韧性分别达到662MPa和19.5MPa.m1/2;T300 C/SiC复合材料表现出低强度、高脆性,其抗弯强度和断裂韧性不足前者的四分之一。T300 C/SiC复合材料低性能的根本原因在于T300纤维在PCS裂解过程中性能严重下降,复合材料中纤维与基体间存在强界面结合是另一个影响因素。     

Magnetic,thermal stability and dynamic mechanical properties of beta isotactic polypropylene/natural rubber blends reinforced by NiZn ferrite nanoparticles

The dispersion of magnetic nanoparticles in matrix is crucial to ensure optimum performance of the composite. The difficulty level of achieving good dispersion is further increase when a multi-phases of matrix is present. A pre-coating technique of magnetic nanoparticles with polypropylene using ball-mill prior to melt-blending process was employed to prepare a multi-phases thermoplastic natural rubber composite. The effect of filler loading (2 wt%-10 wt%) on morphology, structure, magnetic properties, thermal stability and dynamic mechanical properties of the composites were investigated. It was found that the NiZn ferrite nanoparticles act as nucleating agent to form beta isostatic polypropylene thermoplastic composites. The composites' magnetic properties are directly dependent on the filler concentration. The dispersion of magnetic fillers in polymer matrix plays role in affecting the magnetic properties and thermal stability. The preference of filler to locate at amorphous phase has distorted the chain orientation of natural rubber and polypropylene. Hence, the polymorphism and crystallinity of the matrix varied as the filler loading increased, affecting the dynamic mechanical properties. It was found that 8 wt% NiZn nanocomposite exhibits highest E’ and tanδ, indicating the dynamic mechanical properties of NiZn nanocomposite are affected by β-phase degree.     

Influence of thickness and projectile shape on penetration resistance of the compliant composite

The present study deals with development of conceptual proof for jute rubber basedflexible composite block to completely arrest the projectile impacting the target at high velocity impact of 400 m/s through numerical simulation approach using finite element (FE) method. The proposed flexible composite blocks of repeating jute/rubber/jute (JRJ) units are modelled with varying thickness from 30 mm to 120 mm in increments of 30 mm and impacted by flat (F), ogival (O) and hemispherical (HS) shaped projectiles. All the considered projectiles are impacted with proposed flexible composite blocks of different thicknesses and the penetration behaviour of the projectile in each case is studied. The penetration depth of the projectile in case of partially penetrated cases are considered and the effect of thickness and projectile shape on percentage of penetration depth is statistically analyzed using Tagu-chi's design of experiments (DOE). Results reveal that the though proposedflexible composite block with thickness of 90 mm is just sufficient to arrest the complete penetration of the projectile, considering the safety issues, it is recommended to use theflexible composite with thickness of 120 mm. The nature of damage caused by the projectile in the flexible composite is also studied. Statistical studies show that thickness of the block plays a prominent role in determining the damage resistance of the flexible composite.     

Modeling mechanical behaviors of composites with various ratios of matrixeinclusion properties using movable cellular automaton method

Two classes of composite materials are considered: classical metaleceramic composites with reinforcing hard inclusions as well as hard ceramics matrix with soft gel inclusions. Movable cellular automaton method is used for modeling the mechanical behaviors of such different heterogeneous materials. The method is based on particle approach and may be considered as a kind of discrete element method. The main feature of the method is the use of many-body forces of inter-element interaction within the formalism of simply deformable element approximation. It was shown that the strength of reinforcing particles and the width of particle-binder interphase boundaries had determining influence on the service characteristics of metaleceramic composite. In particular, the increasing of strength of carbide inclusions may lead to significant increase in the strength and ultimate strain of composite material. On the example of porous zirconia ceramics it was shown that the change in the mechanical properties of pore surface leads to the corresponding change in effective elastic modulus and strength limit of the ceramic sample. The less is the pore size, the more is this effect. The increase in the elastic properties of pore surface of ceramics may reduce its fracture energy.     

表面官能化对碳纳米管/环氧复合材料玻璃化转变温度及韧性的影响

通过碳纳米管的不同表面官能化,构造其与环氧树脂的不同界面。采用动态机械性能分析研究不同表面官能化碳纳米管对环氧树脂复合材料玻璃化转变温度的影响;采用摆锤冲击试验研究环氧树脂复合材料的韧性。结果表明:与纯环氧树脂相比,氨基化碳纳米管/环氧树脂复合材料的玻璃化转变温度升高,而羧基化碳纳米管/环氧树脂复合材料的玻璃化转变温度反而有所下降;碳纳米管/环氧树脂复合材料的冲击强度相比纯环氧树脂均提高了近一倍。复合材料性能的这些变化规律主要归因于不同表面官能化碳纳米管与环氧树脂基体间形成了不同的界面。     

Physical and damping properties of kenaf fibre filled natural rubber/thermoplastic polyurethane composites

The paper presents the investigation of the effect of alkaline treatment of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) on physical and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) viscoelastic properties of kenaf fibre filled natural rubber (NR)/thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) composites. The treated kenaf fiber, NR and TPU were weighed and proportioned according to the required compositions and were blended using hot mixed Brabender machine. The polymer composites were then fabricated using the hot press to form a sample board. The sample was cut and prepared and water absorption, density, thickness swelling and DMA tests were performed. As far as physical properties are concerned, composites with the highest NR amount of shows the best results, which indicates good fiber bonding adhesion. The polymer composites with the highest amount of TPU shows the highest damping properties at high temperature.     

Synergistic effect of hybrid Himalayan Nettle/Bauhinia-vahlii fibers on physico-mechanical and sliding wear properties of epoxy composites

The cellulosic bast fibers are recognized as a justifiable and biodegradable substitute for producing moderate strength polymer composite materials because of their characteristics of renewability, eco-friendliness, and higher specific strength. Hence the aim of this research work is to fabricate Himalayan bast fibers (Nettle fiber (NF)/bauhinia vahlii fiber (BF)) based mono/hybrid epoxy composites at varying weight percentage of 2–6 wt% and evaluate the physical (void fraction and water absorption), mechanical (tensile strength, flexural strength, hardness) and sliding wear properties of as-fabricated composites. The 6 wt% NBF reinforced composites exhibited higher mechanical properties as compared to NF and BF composites with tensile strength of 34.04 MPa, flexural strength of 42.45 MPa, and hardness of 37.01 H_v respectively. The influence of various control factors (sliding velocity, NF/BF/NBF contents, normal load and sliding distance) on specific sliding wear rate of composites was evaluated by Taguchi (three factors at three levels) experimental design and the percentage contribution of these selected parameters on sliding wear performance was examined by Analysis of variance (ANOVA). The sliding wear property of as-developed composites was found to be greatly influenced by sliding velocity and the wear resistance was observed to be improved with the NF/BF/NBF contents. The wear mechanism of the as-fabricated composites has been elucidated by scanning electron microscopy analysis. The research outcomes demonstrated that the hybridization of Bauhinia vahlii fiber with Nettle fiber led to improve the mechanical and wear properties of epoxy composites.     

An efficient SPH methodology for modelling mechanical characteristics of particulate composites

Particulate composites are one of the widely used materials in producing numerous state-of-the-art components in biomedical, automobile, aerospace including defence technology. Variety of modelling techniques have been adopted in the past to model mechanical behaviour of particulate composites. Due to their favourable properties, particle-based methods provide a convenient platform to model failure or fracture of these composites. Smooth particle hydrodynamics (SPH) is one of such methods which demonstrate excellent potential for modelling failure or fracture of particulate composites in a Lagrangian setting. One of the major challenges in using SPH method for modelling composite materials depends on accurate and efficient way to treat interface and boundary conditions. In this paper, a master-slave method based multi-freedom constraints is proposed to impose essential boundary conditions and interfacial displacement constraints in modelling mechanical behaviour of composite materials using SPH method. The proposed methodology enforces the above constraints more accurately and requires only smaller condition number for system stiffness matrix than the procedures based on typical penalty function approach. A minimum cut-off value-based error criteria is employed to improve the compu-tational efficiency of the proposed methodology. In addition, the proposed method is further enhanced by adopting a modified numerical interpolation scheme along the boundary to increase the accuracy and computational efficiency. The numerical examples demonstrate that the proposed master-slave approach yields better accuracy in enforcing displacement constraints and requires approximately the same computational time as that of penalty method.     

Effect of organo-modified montmorillonite nanoclay on mechanical,thermal and ablation behavior of carbon fiber/phenolic resin composites

The mechanical, thermal and ablation properties of carbon phenolic (C-Ph) composites (Type-I) rein-forced with different weight percentages of organo-modified montmorillonite (o-MMT) nanoclay have been studied experimentally. Ball milling was used to disperse different weight (wt) percentages (0, 1,2,4,6 wt.％) of nanoclay into phenolic resin. Viscosity changes to resin due to nanoclay was studied. On the other hand, nanoclay added phenolic matrix composites (Type-II) were prepared to study the dispersion of nanoclay in phenolic matrix by small angle X-ray scattering and thermal stability changes to the matrix by thermogravimetric analyser (TGA). This data was used to understand the mechanical, thermal and ablation properties of Type-I composites. Inter laminar shear strength (ILSS), flexural strength and flexural modulus of Type I composites increased by about 29％, 12％and 7％respectively at 2 wt.％ addition of nanoclay beyond which these properties decreased. This was attributed to reduced fiber volume fraction (％Vf) of Type-I composites due to nanoclay addition at such high loadings. Mass ablation rate of Type-I composites was evaluated using oxy acetylene torch test at low heat flux (125 W/cm2) and high heat flux levels (500 W/cm2). Mass ablation rates have increased at both flux levels marginally up to 2 wt.％ addition of nanoclay beyond which it has increased significantly. This is in contrast to increased thermal stability observed for Type-I and Type-Ⅱ composites up to 2 wt.％addition of nanoclay. Increased ablation rates due to nanoclay addition was attributed to higher insulation effi-ciency of nanolcay, which accumulates more heat energy in limited area behind the ablation front and self-propagating ablation mechanisms triggered by thermal decomposition of organic part of nanoclay.     

Polymer composite for antistatic application in aerospace

The phenomenon of static electricity is unpredictable, particularly when an aircraft flying at high altitude that causes the accumulation of static charges beyond a threshold value leading to the failure of its parts and systems including severe explosion and radio communication failure. The accumulation of static charges on aircraft is generated by the virtue of interaction between the outer surface of aircraft and the external environmental attributes encompasses air particles, ice, hail, dust, volcanic ash in addition to its triboelectric charging. In the recent years, advanced polymer-based composites or nanocomposites are preferred structural constituents for aircrafts due to their light weight and comparable mechanical properties, but such composite systems do not render low impedance path for charge flow and are subsequently vulnerable to effect of lightning strike and precipitation static. In this context, it is essential to develop conductive composite systems from non-conductive polymer matrix by nanofiller embodiments. The advent of carbon-based nanocomposite/nanomaterials have adequately addressed such issues related to the nonconductive polymer matrix and further turned into an avant-garde genre of materials. The current review envisioned to illustrate the detailed exploitation of various polymer nanocomposites in addition to especially mentioned epoxy composites based on carbon fillers like carbon black, carbon nanotube (single walled carbon nanotube and multi walled carbon nanotube) and graphene the development of antistatic application in aircraft in addition to the static charge phenomenon and condition for its prevalence in avionic systems.     

A comprehensive review on material selection for polymer matrix composites subjected to impact load

Polymer matrix composites (PMC) are extensively been used in many engineering applications. Various natural fibers have emerged as potential replacements to synthetic fibers as reinforcing materials composites owing to their fairly better mechanical properties, low cost, environment friendliness and biodegradability. Selection of appropriate constituents of composites for a particular application is a tedious task for a designer/engineer. Impact loading has emerged as the serious threat for the composites used in structural or secondary structural application and demands the usage of appropriate fiber and matrix combination to enhance the energy absorption and mitigate the failure. The objective of the present review is to explore the composite with various fiber and matrix combination used for impact applications, identify the gap in the literature and suggest the potential naturally available fiber and matrix combination of composites for future work in the field of impact loading. The novelty of the present study lies in exploring the combination of naturally available fiber and matrix combination which can help in better energy absorption and mitigate the failure when subjected to impact loading. In addition, the application of multi attributes decision making (MADM) tools is demonstrated for selection of fiber and matrix materials which can serve as a benchmark study for the researchers in future.     

波速测量层合复合材料冲击损伤实验

在层合复合材料横向冲击试验中,用应变片记录层合板表层在冲击过程中的应变响应,根据波的传播理论和连续损伤力学,从波速变化间接测得冲击下材料的损伤及损伤率。通过实验测得玻璃纤维／环氧（ＧＥ）正交层合板的动态损伤阈值,并证实了ＧＥ复合材料在拉伸阶段比在压缩阶段有更快的损伤扩展速率     

Crashworthiness performance of hybrid kenaf/glass fiber reinforced epoxy tube on winding orientation effect under quasi-static compression load

This research was aimed to study the effect winding orientation on the crashworthiness performance of hybrid tube. The specimens tested under quasi-static compression load involve of three winding parameters (θ = 30°, 45° and 70°) of hybrid kenaf/glass fiber reinforced epoxy and glass fiber reinforced epoxy as contrast specimen. The automated filament winding technique has been used in fabrication of hybrid and non-hybrid composite tube and crashworthiness performance was investigated experimentally. The effects of winding orientation on energy absorption capabilities and crashworthiness characteristic were investigated through quasi-static compression load and the result are compared with the glass fiber composite tube to justify the capability of hybrid natural/synthetic as energy absorption application. Hybridized samples proved to enhancing the progressive crushing capability as combination of local buckling, delaminate and brittle fracturing as progressive crushing modes.In the view of winding orientation aspect, the results of high winding orientation of hybrid composite tube elevated the crush load efficiency, specific energy absorption and energy absorption capability compared to glass composite tube (GFRP). The hybrid kenaf/glass composite tube with high winding orientation showed the best winding orientation to enhance the energy absorber characteristics as energy absorption application.     

树脂浸渍裂解对气相硅反应渗透C/SiC的影响

粘胶基碳纤维毡经过CVD工艺进行沉积碳增密处理后,采用酚醛树脂浸渍—裂解对C/C素坯的密度进行调节,通过气相硅渗透反应工艺制备了C/SiC复合材料。研究了树脂浸渍—裂解对C/C素坯密度和气孔率的影响规律,分析了树脂裂解碳对C/SiC显微形貌和力学性能的影响。结果表明:随着树脂浸渍—裂解循环次数的增加,素坯密度增加,孔隙率降低;裂解碳含量为27wt%时,C/SiC复合材料的强度和模量达到最大,分别为231MPa和209GPa。通过控制裂解碳含量,可以实现对C/SiC复合材料力学性能和微观结构的裁剪。