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Annealed stainless steel and Ti alloy in solution heat treated aged condition, detailing elevated temperature and high strain rate effects on fatigue life and tensile properties
Large diameter, carbon-carbon composite, monofilaments were produced from the pyrolysis of organic precursor resins reinforced with high-strenght carbon fibers. The mechanical properties were measured before and after pyrolysis and the results were correlated with the properties of the constituents. The composite resulting from the combination of Thornel 75 and GW-173 resin precursor produced the highest tensile strength. The importance of matching strain-to-failure of fibers and matrix to obtain all the potential reinforcement of fibers is discussed. Methods are described to reduce, within the carbonaceous matrix, pyrolysis flaws which tend to reduce the composite strength. Preliminary studies are described which demonstrated the feasibility of fiber-matrix copyrolysis to alleviate matrix cracking and provide an improved matrix-fiber interfacial bonding.
The mechanical properties of an elastomer, including rupture and its time dependence, are defined uniquely by a tensile property surface in normalized stress-strain-time coordinates. In practice, the property surface is determined from short-time constant strain-rate uniaxial tests. By using the time reduction properties of both temperature and cross-link density, an effective time scale of over ten decades of log time can be covered. Changes in cross-link density, filler content, or swelling do not affect the limits of the property surface when plotted in logarithmic coordinates but merely shift their positions. The shape, however, may be modified in certain cases. The service life of an elastomer in the absence of aging reactions can be estimated from the property surface and expected in-use conditions such as strains (static or dynamic).
The transverse and longitudinal tensile properties of the oxide dispersion strengthened nickel base alloys MA-793, MA-754, MA-755E, and MA-6000E were determined at 760 C. Transverse tensile strengths were comparable to longitudinal strengths. Transverse ductility levels generally were less than two percent elongation. Both tensile and yield strengths increased with increasing strain rate over the range 0.001 to 0.05 per second. Ductility was not strain rate sensitive, but related to grain size and grain aspect ratio. The fracture mode of most alloys changed from transgranular for longitudinally oriented specimens to intergranular for transverse specimens. Transverse properties of DM MAR M-200 + Hf were also determined for comparison.
The transverse and longitudinal tensile properties of the oxide dispersion strengthened nickel-base alloys were determined at 760 C. The alloys with small amounts of gamma prime have strength levels suitable for turbine vane applications, while other highly alloyed, gamma prime strengthened superalloys have strengths typical of turbine blade materials. These alloys were produced by mechanical alloying and extrusion and the turbine blade alloys were also directionally recrystallized. Resultant grain aspect ratios varied from 1:1 to over 20:1. Longitudinal tensile strengths ranged from 285 to 1175 MPa, while longitudinal elongations were in excess of 4 percent for all alloys. Transverse tensile strengths were comparable to longitudinal strengths, but transverse ductility levels were generally less than 2 percent elongation. Tensile and yield strengths increased with increasing strain rate over the range 0.001 to 0.05 per second. Ductility in both orientations was not strain rate sensitive but could be related to grain size and grain aspect ratio.
Samples of a filled elastomeric ablative material were stored at 45 C and 10 to the -6th torr for 7 months. Their tensile stress-relaxation modulus at constant strain was measured throughout the 7 months. Results of the testing are discussed primarily by comparisons of the data to atmospheric-pressure moduli (determined in this work for shorter periods of time) and with moduli predicted from short-time testing. Confirmation of the strengthening effects of vacuum on this composite was obtained. The use of time-temperature superposition techniques as an approximate accelerated testing procedure for this material under these conditions was also verified.
An attempt is made to develop tough, moisture resistant, high char yield epoxy resins by means of novel bisimide amine (BIA) hardener curing agents and a state-of-the-art epoxy resin system. The BIAs are isolated as mixtures containing monomer, oligomer, and polymeric species, and then characterized by elemental analysis and high pressure liquid chromatography. The bisimide amine-cured epoxies (IMEs) were characterized with respect to moisture absorption, thermal properties, and physical and mechanical properties, as well as in the role of matrices in Celion 6000/IME composites. The relative toughness characteristics of each IME formulation was measured by the 10 deg off-axis tensile test, measuring the uniaxial tensile strength, shear strength, and shear-strain-to-failure of the composite systems.
Interrupted tensile tests were conducted to fixed plastic strain levels in 100 ordered single crystals of the nickel based superalloy PWA 1480. Testing was done in the range of 20 to 1093 C, at strain rate of 0.5 and 50%/min. The yield strength was constant from 20 to 760 C, above which the strength dropped rapidly and became a stong function of strain rate. The high temperature data were represented very well by an Arrhenius type equation, which resulted in three distinct temperature regimes. The deformation substructures were grouped in the same three regimes, indicating that there was a fundamental relationship between the deformation mechanisms and activation energies. Models of the yielding process were considered, and it was found that no currently available model was fully applicable to this alloy. It was also demonstrated that the initial deformation mechanism (during yielding) was frequently different from that which would be inferred by examining specimens which were tested to failure.
Interrupted tensile tests were conducted to fixed plastic strain levels in 100 ordered single crystals of the nickel based superalloy PWA 1480. Testing was done in the range of 20 to 1093 C, at strain rate of 0.5 and 50 percent/min. The yield strength was constant from 20 to 760 C, above which the strength dropped rapidly and became a strong function of strain rate. The high temperature data were represented very well by an Arrhenius type equation, which resulted in three distinct temperature regimes. The deformation substructures were grouped in the same three regimes, indicating that there was a fundamental relationship between the deformation mechanisms and activation energies. Models of the yielding process were considered, and it was found that no currently available model was fully applicable to this alloy. It was also demonstrated that the initial deformation mechanism (during yielding) was frequently different from that which would be inferred by examining specimens which were tested to failure.
The results of a research and software development effort are presented for the finite element modeling of the static and dynamic behavior of anisotropic materials, with emphasis on single crystal alloys. Various versions of two dimensional and three dimensional hybrid finite elements were implemented and compared with displacement-based elements. Both static and dynamic cases are considered. The hybrid elements developed in the project were incorporated into the SPAR finite element code. In an extension of the first phase of the project, optimization of experimental tests for anisotropic materials was addressed. In particular, the problem of calculating material properties from tensile tests and of calculating stresses from strain measurements were considered. For both cases, numerical procedures and software for the optimization of strain gauge and material axes orientation were developed.
N-vinyl caprolactam was copolymerized with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate using a free-radical initiator in alcohol/water solution. The resulting gels were thermally-responsive in water, undergoing an approximate fivefold reversible volume shrinkage between room temperature and ca. 50 C. Tensile testing showed that the stress-strain behavior was qualitatively different in the collapsed state above the temperature-induced transition. At the higher temperature, gels were stiffer, more ductile, and showed greater time dependence. Implications for the design of gel actuators are briefly discussed.
Testing techniques for measuring the mechanical properties of SIRCA were refined and validated. These included tensile and compressive tests and stress-strain response. Analytic models were developed in order to explain initial experimental results.
Composite materials made with triaxial braid architecture and large tow size carbon fibers are beginning to be used in many applications, including composite aircraft and engine structures. Recent advancements in braiding technology have led to commercially viable manufacturing approaches for making large structures with complex shape. Although the large unit cell size of these materials is an advantage for manufacturing efficiency, the fiber architecture presents some challenges for materials characterization, design, and analysis. In some cases, the static load capability of structures made using these materials has been higher than expected based on material strength properties measured using standard coupon tests. A potential problem with using standard tests methods for these materials is that the unit cell size can be an unacceptably large fraction of the specimen dimensions. More detailed investigation of deformation and failure processes in large unit cell size triaxial braid composites is needed to evaluate the applicability of standard test methods for these materials and to develop alternative testing approaches. In recent years, commercial equipment has become available that enables digital image correlation to be used on a more routine basis for investigation of full field 3D deformation in materials and structures. In this paper, some new techniques that have been developed to investigate local deformation and failure using digital image correlation techniques are presented. The methods were used to measure both local and global strains during standard straight-sided coupon tensile tests on composite materials made with 12 and 24 k yarns and a 0/+60/-60 triaxial braid architecture. Local deformation and failure within fiber bundles was observed, and this local failure had a significant effect on global stiffness and strength. The matrix material had a large effect on local damage initiation for the two matrix materials used in this investigation. Premature failure in regions of the unit cell near the edge of the straight-sided specimens was observed for transverse tensile tests in which the braid axial fibers were perpendicular to the specimen axis and the bias fibers terminated on the cut edges in the specimen gage section. This edge effect is one factor that could contribute to a measured strength that is lower than the actual material strength in a structure without edge effects.
Recent advancements in braiding technology have led to commercially viable manufacturing approaches for making large structures with complex shape out of triaxial braided composite materials. In some cases, the static load capability of structures made using these materials has been higher than expected based on material strength properties measured using standard coupon tests. A more detailed investigation of deformation and failure processes in large-unit-cell-size triaxial braid composites is needed to evaluate the applicability of standard test methods for these materials and to develop alternative testing approaches. This report presents some new techniques that have been developed to investigate local deformation and failure using digital image correlation techniques. The methods were used to measure both local and global strains during standard straight-sided coupon tensile tests on composite materials made with 12- and 24-k yarns and a 0 /+60 /-60 triaxial braid architecture. Local deformation and failure within fiber bundles was observed and correlations were made between these local failures and global composite deformation and strength.
Over the past decade, NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) has championed integrally stiffened cylinder (ISC) technology for single-piece, cryogenic tank barrels on launch vehicles. The current investigation aims to extend the hybrid spin/shear/flow forming process to aircraft fuselage structures, a damage tolerance critical application. The WF Maschinenbau VUD-600® vertical spin/flow forming facility recently established at LaRC represents a reasonable sub-scale facsimile of the ISC deformation process for research and development (R&D) purposes. The objective of this study is to explore whether tensile testing with digital image correlation (DIC) is an effective way to rank the formability of candidate aerospace Al alloys and expedite empirical forming trials. Specific tensile data, such as reduction of area, strain hardening exponent, and modulus of resilience, are used as formability metrics for a variety of alloy/temper/product form combinations. Results from high-strength aluminum alloys AA 2139, AA 2050, AA 2043 and AA 2219 are compared with the medium-strength, highly formable AA 6061 benchmark. Rolled, forged and cast preform materials in both the -O temper (fully annealed) and -T4 temper (solution-treated, quenched, and naturally aged) conditions are evaluated. AA 2139 plate in the -T4 temper emerges as the top-ranked material, based on the criteria selected. Starting with preforms in the -T4 temper will result in flow-formed material exhibiting mechanical properties closer to aircraft fuselage requirements. The optimum balance between strength and damage tolerance may also be achieved via post-forming procedures that avoid quenching and stretching.
Two methods are presented for separating the inelastic strain components of a complex hysteresis loop so that strainrange partitioning formulas can be applied to accurately determine cyclic life at elevated temperatures. These methods are required only if lower bounds established by strainrange partitioning concepts have been deemed inadequate in the establishment of expected lifetime. In one method, rapid loading and unloading is applied in the tensile and compressive half to isolate the plastic strain. In the second method, the creep is measured at a discrete number of points along the hysteresis loop by combining load-control tests into the general pattern of strain cycling under arbitrary temperature. Both methods are shown to give good results.
Two methods are presented for separating the inelastic strain components of a complex hysteresis loop so that Strainrange Partitioning formulas can be applied to accurately determine cyclic life at elevated temperatures. These methods are required only if lower bounds established by Strainrange Partitioning concepts have been deemed inadequate in the establishment of expected lifetime. In one method rapid loading and unloading is applied in the tensile and compressive half to isolate the plastic strain. In the second method the 'creep' is measured at a discrete number of points along the hysteresis loop by combining load-control tests into the general pattern of strain cycling under arbitrary temperature. Both methods are shown to give good results.
Understanding and tailoring static and dynamic properties of magnetic insulator thin films is important for spintronic device applications. Here, we grow atomically flat epitaxial europium iron garnet (EuIG) thin films by pulsed laser deposition on (111)-oriented garnet substrates with a range of lattice parameters. By controlling the lattice mismatch between EuIG and the substrates, we tune the strain in EuIG films from the compressive to the tensile regime, which is characterized by x-ray diffraction. Using ferromagnetic resonance (FMR), we find that, in addition to the first-order perpendicular magnetic anisotropy which depends linearly on the strain, there is a significant second-order one that has a quadratic strain dependence. Inhomogeneous linewidth of the FMR increases notably with increasing strain, while the Gilbert damping parameter remains nearly constant (≈ 2 × 10 –2 ). Finally, these results provide valuable insight into the spin dynamics in ferrimagnetic insulators and useful guidance for material synthesis and engineering of next-generation spintronics applications.