ALBERT

Description: The combined effects of moisture (M), temperature (T), and strain rate (SR) on the properties of the unidirectional graphite/epoxy composite AS4/3501-6 are investigated experimentally. Longitudinal tensile, in-plane shear, and transverse tensile specimens with moisture content 0 or 1 percent were characterized using standard mechanical tests and the techniques described by Yaniv et al. (1987) at temperatures 23-128 C and strain rates from 5 x 10 to the -6th/sec to 5/sec. The results are presented in graphs and discussed in detail. The longitudinal properties of the composite were found to be generally unaffected by changes in the parameters, whereas transverse and interlaminar properties decreased with increasing T and M at constant SR and the transverse and in-plane shear moduli increased with SR. A time-T-M equivalence principle is used to derive master curves for all the matrix-dominated properties, expressed in terms of a two-variable shift function.

Description: This paper discusses an analytical and experimental study to investigate the thermally induced twist in laminated angle-ply graphite-epoxy tubes. Attention is focused on balanced laminates which, contrary to intuition, exhibit twist when the temperature is changed. The twisting is due to the fact that a lamina with ( a + phi) orientation and a lamina with (a - phi) orientation must be at slightly different radial positions in the twist. The lamina with the greater radial position determines the sense of the twist. Classical lamination theory does not predict this phenomenon, and so as more sophisticated theory must be employed. This paper outlines such as theory, which is based on an generalized plane-deformation elasticity analysis, and presents experimental data to confirm the predictions of the theory. A brief description of the experimental apparatus and procedure used to measure twist is presented.

Description: An indentation test technique for compressively loading the ends of individual fibers to produce debonding has been applied to metal, glass, and glass-ceramic matrix composites; bond strength values at debond initiation are calculated using a finite-element model. Results are correlated with composite longitudinal and interlaminar shear behavior for carbon and Nicalon fiber-reinforced glasses and glass-ceramics including the effects of matrix modifications, processing conditions, and high-temperature oxidation embrittlement. The data indicate that significant bonding to improve off-axis and shear properties can be tolerated before the longitudinal behavior becomes brittle. Residual stress and other mechanical bonding effects are important, but improved analyses and multiaxial interfacial failure criteria are needed to adequately interpret bond strength data in terms of composite performance.

Description: The purpose of this study was to assess the space durability of poly(aryl-ether-ketone) (PEEK) in the forms of films and graphite fiber reinforced composites. The influence of the film's crystallinity on electron radiation stability was evaluated using X-ray diffraction, DSC, FTIR, and mechanical property tests. The mechanical properties of the composites material were evaluated after electron radiation and after electron radiation followed by thermal cycling simulating 30 years in geosynchronous orbit.

Description: Multilayer insulations (MIs) which will operate in the 500 to 1000 C temperature range are being considered for possible applications on aerospace vehicles subject to convective and radiative heating during atmospheric entry. The insulations described consist of ceramic fibers, insulations, and metal foils quilted together with ceramic thread. As these types of insulations have highly anisotropic properties, the total heat transfer characteristics must be determined. Data are presented on the thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity of four types of MIs and are compared to the baseline Advanced Flexible Reusable Surface Insulation currently used on the Space Shuttle Orbiter. In addition, the high temperature properties of the fibers used in these MIs are discussed. The fibers investigated included silica and three types of aluminoborosilicate (ABS). Static tension tests were performed at temperatures up to 1200 C and the ultimate strain, tensile strength, and tensile modulus of single fibers were determined.

Description: The thermal cycling of a tungsten-fiber-reinforced superalloy (TFRS) composite is typical of its application in high-temperature engine environments. The mismatch in thermal expansion coefficients between fiber and matrix causes substantial longitudinal (0 deg) stresses in the composite, which can produce inelastic damage-producing matrix strains. The case of thermal fatigue is explored as a "worst case" of the possible matrix damage, in comparison with specimens which are also mechanically loaded in tension. The thermally generated cyclic stresses and the attendant matrix plasticity may be estimated using a nonlinear finite-element program, by proposing a physical analog to the micromechanics equations. A damage metric for the matrix is proposed using the Coffin-Manson criterion, which metric can facilitate comparisons of damage among different candidate materials, and also comparisons for a given material subjected to different temperature cycles. An experimental program was carried out for thermal cycling of a 37 vol pct TFRS composite to different maximum temperatures. The results confirm the prediction that thermal cycling produces matrix degradation and composite strength reduction, which become more pronounced with increasing maximum cyclic temperature. The strength of the fiber is shown to be identical for the as-fabricated and thermally cycled specimens, suggesting that the reduction in composite strength is due to the loss of matrix contribution and also to notching effects of the matrix voids on the fiber.

Description: On the basis of the simplifying assumption of equivalent constituent strain rates in the absence of damage, a strain-based failure criterion can be applied to the phenomena of damage-initiation and growth in fiber-reinforced MMCs to ascertain when and where the initial damage will occur. The failure modes fall into four categories, depending on the relative fatigue behavior of the reinforcing fibers and their matrix. Attention is given to experimental results illustrating current understanding of fiber-dominated damage, self-similar fatigue damage growth, and fiber/matrix interface failures, for such MMCs as B/Al alloy, SiC/Al alloy, and SiC/Ti-15-3 alloy.

Description: X-ray diffraction and analytical electron microscopy have been used to study the crystallization of the grain-boundary glass in a 6 wt pct Y2O3-Si3N4 ceramic. Upon crystallization, high densities of dislocations formed in the Si3N4 grains and remained after 5 h at temperature. However, prolonged holds at the crystallization temperature effectively annealed out the dislocations. Other features present in the microstructure are characterized.

Description: The fracture of high-modulus fiber-reinforced graphite/epoxy laminates with machined crack-like notches is discussed. An experimental program was conducted, in which stacking sequence,laminate thickness, notch size, and specimen configuration have been investigated. This research has led to the fundamental observation that heterogeneity significantly effects the fracture of thin laminates but has a relatively insignificant effect on the fracture of thick laminates. The results of this program are reviewed with the emphasis on the notch sensitivity and design of thick laminates.

Description: A major source of delamination damage in laminated composite materials is from low-velocity impact. In thin composite laminates under point loads, matrix cracks develop first in the plies, and delaminations then grow from these cracks at the ply interfaces. The purpose of this study was to quantify the combined effects of bending and transverse shear loads on delamination initiation from matrix cracks. Graphite-epoxy laminates with 90 deg plies on the outside were used to provide a two-dimensional simulation of the damage due to low-velocity impact. Three plate bending problems were considered: a 4-point bending, 3-point bending, and an end-clamped center-loaded plate. Under bending, a matrix crack will form on the tension side of the laminate, through the outer 90 deg plies and parallel to the fibers. Delaminations will then grow in the interface between the cracked 90 deg ply and the next adjacent ply. Laminate plate theory was used to derive simple equations relating the total strain energy release rate, G, associated with the delamination growth from a 90 deg ply crack to the applied bending load and laminate stiffness properties. Three different lay-ups were tested and results compared. Test results verified that the delamination always formed at the interface between the cracked 90 deg ply and the next adjacent ply. Calculated values for total G sub c from the analysis showed good agreement for all configurations. The analysis was able to predict the delamination onset load for the cases considered. The result indicated that the opening mode component (Mode I) for delamination growth from a matrix crack may be much larger than the component due to interlaminar shear (Mode II).