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At least 1,333 records · Page 74

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NASA NTRS1991

Thermal-vacuum effects on polymer matrix composite materials

Results are presented on the thermal-vacuum response of a variety of fiber reinforced polymers matrix composites that comprised the UTIAS experiment on the LDEF satellite. Theoretical temperature-time predictions for this experiment are in excellent agreement with test data. Results also show quite clearly the effect of outgassing in the dimensional changes of these materials and the corresponding coefficients of thermal expansion. Finally, comparison with ground-based simulation tests are presented as well. Use of these data for design purposes are also given.

Tennyson, R. C.↗

NASA NTRS1990

The Iosipescu shear test method as used for testing polymers and composite materials

This paper describes a shear test method for polymers and composite materials, based on the Iosipescu (1967) shear test which was originally developed for use with homogeneous isotropic metals. Special attention is given to the loading fixture for the test, the standard specimen design and shear stress measurements. The range of the test applications is indicated. The method is in the final stages of being accepted as an ASTM standard.

Adams, Donald F.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Computational simulation of the creep-rupture process in filamentary composite materials

A computational simulation of the internal damage accumulation which causes the creep-rupture phenomenon in filamentary composite materials is developed. The creep-rupture process involves complex interactions between several damage mechanisms. A statistically-based computational simulation using a time-differencing approach is employed to model these progressive interactions. The finite element method is used to calculate the internal stresses. The fibers are modeled as a series of bar elements which are connected transversely by matrix elements. Flaws are distributed randomly throughout the elements in the model. Load is applied, and the properties of the individual elements are updated at the end of each time step as a function of the stress history. The simulation is continued until failure occurs. Several cases, with different initial flaw dispersions, are run to establish a statistical distribution of the time-to-failure. The calculations are performed on a supercomputer. The simulation results compare favorably with the results of creep-rupture experiments conducted at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Slattery, Kerry T.↗

NASA NTRS1991

The interstellar C-H stretching band near 3.4 microns - Constraints on the composition of organic material in the diffuse interstellar medium

The composition and history of dust in the diffuse ISM was studied using 3600-2700/cm absorption spectra of objects which have widely varying amounts of visual extinctions along different lines of sight. The 3300/cm and 2950/cm features are attributed to O-H and C-H stretching vibrations, respectively. The O-H feature in OH 32.8-0.3 is suggestive of circumstellar water ice and is probably not due to material in the diffuse ISM. The features in the 3100-2700/cm region are attributed either to C-H vibrations or to M stars. The spectra of the latter show a series of narrow features in this region that are identified with photospheric OH. Objects in which these bands are seen include OH 01-477, T629-5, and the Galactic center source IRS 7. The C-H stretch feature of diffuse ISM dust has subpeaks which fall within 5/cm of C-H stretching vibrations in the -CH2- and -CH3 groups of saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons.

Sandford, S. A.↗

NASA NTRS1992

High-toughness graphite/epoxy composite material experiment

This experiment was designed to measure the effect of near space exposure on three mechanical properties of specially toughened 5208/T300 graphite/epoxy composite materials. The properties measured are elastic modulus, strength, and fracture toughness. Six toughness specimens and nine tensile specimens were mounted on an external frame during the time of the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) mission. Three identical sets of specimens were manufactured at the outset: the flight set, a zero time non-flight set, and a total time non-flight set. To date, two toughness specimens and three strength and modulus specimens have been tested from each of the three groups.

Felbeck, David K.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Effects of LDEF flight exposure on selected polymer matrix resin composite materials

The characterization of selected graphite fiber reinforced epoxy (934 and 5208) and polysulfone (P1700) matrix resin composites materials which received over five years and nine months of exposure to the low earth orbit (LEO) environment in experiment AO134 on the Long Duration Exposure Facility is reported. The changes in mechanical properties of ultimate tensile strength and tensile modulus for exposed flight specimens are compared to the three sets of control specimens. Marked changes in surface appearance are discussed, and resin loss is reported. The chemical characterization including infrared, thermal, and selected solution property measurements showed that the molecular structure of the polymetric matrix had not changed significantly in response to this exposure.

Slemp, Wayne S.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Numerical analysis of the Iosipescu specimen for composite materials

A finite element analysis of the Iosipescu shear tests for unidirectional and cross-ply composites is presented. It is shown that an iterative analysis procedure must be used to model the fixture-specimen kinematics. The correction factors which are needed to compensate for the nonuniformity of stress distribution in calculating shear modulus are shown to be dependent on the material orthotropic ratio and the finite element loading models. Test section strain distributions representative of typical graphite-epoxy specimens are also presented.

Ho, H.↗

NASA NTRS1991

A comparison of three popular test methods for determining the shear modulus of composite materials

Three popular shear tests (the 10 degree off-axis, the plus or minus 45 degree tensile, and the Iosipescu specimen tested in the modified Wyoming fixture) for shear modulus measurement are evaluated for a graphite-epoxy composite material system. A comparison of the shear stress-strain response for each test method is made using conventional strain gage instrumentation and moire interferometry. The uniformity and purity of the strain fields in the test sections of the specimens are discussed, and the shear responses obtained from each test technique are presented and compared. For accurate measurement of shear modulus, the 90 degree Iosipescu specimen is recommended.

Ho, Henjen↗

NASA NTRS1991

Characterization of selected LDEF polymer matrix resin composite materials

The characterization of selected graphite fiber reinforced epoxy (934 and 5208) and polysulfone (P1700) matrix resin composite materials which received 5 years and 10 months of exposure to the LEO environment on the Long Duration Exposure Facility is reported. Resin loss and a decrease in mechanical performance as well as dramatic visual effects were observed. However, chemical characterization including infrared, thermal, and selected solution property measurements showed that the molecular structure of the polymeric matrix had not changed significantly in response to this exposure. The potential effect of a silicon-containing molecular contamination of these specimens is addressed.

Young, Philip R.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Analogy for the effect of material and geometrical variables on energy-absorption capability of composite tubes

Simplified procedures for determining the qualitative effect a variable has on structural response of a composite tube are very useful in both preliminary design as well as in providing insight into the general response. An analysis procedure is presented that can be used to determine the qualitative change in the sustained crushing load due to a change in specimen material properties or geometry. The analysis procedure is similar in form to the equation for the buckling load of a column on an elastic foundation.

Farley, Gary L.↗

NASA NTRS1992

An evaluation of the Iosipescu specimen for composite materials shear property measurement

A detailed evaluation of the suitability of the Iosipescu specimen tested in the modified Wyoming fixture is presented. A linear finite element model of the specimen is used to assess the uniformity of the shear stress field in the vicinity of the notch, and demonstrate the effect of the nonuniform stress field upon strain gage measurements used for the determination of composite shear moduli. Based upon test results from graphite-epoxy laminates, the proximity of the load introduction point to the test section and the material orthotropy greatly influence the individual gage readings, however, shear modulus determination is not significantly affected by the lack of pure shear. Correction factors are needed to allow for the nonuniformity of the strain field and the use of the average shear stress in the shear modulus evaluation. The correction factors are determined for the region occupied by the strain gage rosette. A comparison of the strain gage readings from one surface of a specimen with corresponding data from moire interferometry on the opposite face documented an extreme sensitivity of some fiber orientations to eccentric loading which induced twisting and spurious shear stress-strain curves. The discovery of specimen twisting explains the apparently inconsistent shear property data found in the literature. Recommendations for improving the reliability and accuracy of the shear modulus values are made, and the implications for shear strength measurement discussed.

Morton, J.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Compression-after-impact testing of thin composite materials

A new method has been devised to test composite specimens as thin as 8 plies and up to 7.6 cm in width for compression strength. This method utilizes a fixture incorporating the best features of the Celanese and IITRI fixtures combined with an antibuckling jig developed at the University of Dayton Research Institute. This new method uses up to 83 percent less material than the most commonly used compression-after-impact technique (which calls for a 48 ply test specimen) and can also be performed on smaller loading frames since a much smaller force is needed to fail the specimen. The thickness of the test specimen can be fabricated to exactly match production part thickness, thus yielding more meaningful results. CAI tests were performed on IM6/3501 carbon/epoxy utilizing this new method. To verify the design, a series of tests were performed in which undamaged specimens were tested using the new fixture and ASTM D 3410-87 (Celanese compression test) and the results compared. The new fixture works well and will be a valuable asset to MSFC's damage tolerance program.

Nettles, Alan T.↗

NASA NTRS1992

A mechanism responsible for reducing compression strength of through-the-thickness reinforced composite material

A study was conducted to identify one of the mechanisms that contributes to the reduced compression strength of composite materials with through-the-thickness (TTT) reinforcements. In this study a series of thick (0/90) laminates with stitched and integrally woven TTT reinforcements were fabricated and statically tested. In both the stitching and weaving process a surface loop of TTT reinforcement yarn is created between successive TTT penetrations. It was shown that the surface loop of the TTT reinforcement 'kinked' the in-plane fibers in such a manner that they were made ineffective in carrying compressive load. The improvement in strength by removal of the surface loop and 'kinked' in-plane fibers was between 7 and 35 percent.

Farley, Gary L.↗

NASA NTRS1993

A comparison of three popular test methods for determining the shear modulus of composite materials

Three popular shear tests - the 10 deg off-axis, the +/- 45 deg tensile and the Iosipescu specimen tested in the modified Wyoming fixture - for shear modulus measurement are evaluated for a graphite-epoxy composite material system. A comparison of the shear stress-strain response for each test method is made using conventional strain gage instrumentation and moire interferometry. The uniformity and purity of the strain fields in the test sections of the specimens are discussed, and the shear responses obtained from each test technique are presented and compared. For accurate measurement of the shear modulus, the 90 deg Iosipescu specimen is recommended.

Ho, H.↗

NASA NTRS1993

High-toughness graphite/epoxy composite material experiment

This experiment was designed to measure the effect of near-earth space exposure on three mechanical properties of specially toughened 5208/T300 graphite/epoxy composite materials. The properties measured are elastic modulus, strength, and fracture toughness. Six toughness specimens and nine tensile specimens were mounted on an external frame during the 5.8-year orbit of the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF). Three identical sets of specimens were manufactured at the outset: the flight set, a zero-time non-flight set, and a total-time non-flight set.

Felbeck, David K.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Numerical analysis of the Iosipescu specimen for composite materials

Ho, H.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Predicting Properties Of Composite Materials

Micromechanical Combined Stress Analysis (MICSTRAN) computer code provides materials engineers with easy-to-use personal-computer-based software tool to calculate overall properties of composite, given properties of fibers and matrix. Computes overall thermoelastic parameters and stresses by micromechanical analysis. Written in FORTRAN 77.

Naik, Rajiv A.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Advanced composites structural concepts and materials technologies for primary aircraft structures: Design/manufacturing concept assessment

Composite Wing and Fuselage Structural Design/Manufacturing Concepts have been developed and evaluated. Trade studies were performed to determine how well the concepts satisfy the program goals of 25 percent cost savings, 40 percent weight savings with aircraft resizing, and 50 percent part count reduction as compared to the aluminum Lockheed L-1011 baseline. The concepts developed using emerging technologies such as large scale resin transfer molding (RTM), automatic tow placed (ATP), braiding, out-of-autoclave and automated manufacturing processes for both thermoset and thermoplastic materials were evaluated for possible application in the design concepts. Trade studies were used to determine which concepts carry into the detailed design development subtask.

Chu, Robert L.↗