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At least 703 records · Page 39

Tribological properties of PM212: A high-temperature, self-lubricating, powder metallurgy composite

This paper describes a research program to develop and evaluate a new high temperature, self-lubricating powder metallurgy composite, PM212. PM212 has the same composition as the plasma-sprayed coating, PS212, which contains 70 wt percent metal-bonded chromium carbide, 15 wt percent silver and 15 wt percent barium fluoride/calcium fluoride eutectic. The carbide acts as a wear resistant matrix and the silver and fluorides act as low and high temperature lubricants, respectively. The material is prepared by sequential cold press, cold isostatic pressing and sintering techniques. In this study, hemispherically tipped wear pins of PM212 were prepared and slid against superalloy disks at temperatures from 25 to 850 C in air in a pin-on-disk tribometer. Friction coefficients range from 0.29 to 0.38 and the wear of both the composite pins and superalloy disks was moderate to low in the 10(exp -5) to 10(exp -6) cubic mm/N-m range. Preliminary tests indicate that the material has a compressive strength of at least 130 MPa over the entire temperature range of 25 to 900 C. This material has promise for use as seal inserts, bushings, small inside diameter parts and other applications where plasma-sprayed coatings are impractical or too costly.

Dellacorte, Christopher↗

On the design and development of a miniature ceramic gimbal bearing

A review is made of a program to develop ceramic gimbal bearings for a miniaturized missile guidance system requiring nonmagnetic properties and higher load capacity than possible with conventional AISI 440C stainless steel bearings. A new gimbal design concept is described which utilizes the compressive strength and nonmagnetic properties of silicon nitride (Si3N4) ceramics for the gimbal bearing. Considerable manufacturing development has occurred in the last 5 years making ceramic bearings a viable option in the gimbal design phase. A preliminary study into the feasibility of the proposed design is summarized. Finite element analysis of the brittle ceramic bearing components under thermal stress and high acceleration loading were conducted to ensure the components will not fail catastrophically in service. Finite element analysis was also used to optimize the adhesive joint design. Bearing torque tests run at various axial loads indicate that the average running torque of ceramic bearings varies with load similarly to that of conventional steel bearings.

Hanson, Robert A.↗

A mechanical model for elastic fiber microbuckling

A two-dimensional mechanical model is presented to predict the compressive strength of unidirectional fiber composites using technical beam theory and classical elasticity. First, a single fiber resting on a matrix half-plane is considered. Next, a more elaborate analysis of a uniformly laminated, unidirectional fiber composite half-plane is presented. The model configuration incorporates a free edge which introduces a buckling mode that originates at the free edge and decays into the interior of the half-plane. It is demonstrated that for composites of low volume fraction (less than 0.3), this decay mode furnishes values of buckling strain that are below the values predicted by the Rosen (1965) model. At a higher volume fraction the buckling mode corresponds to a half-wavelength that is in violation of the usual assumptions of beam theory. Causes for deviations of the model prediction from existing experimental results are discussed.

Waas, A. M.↗

Effect of braiding process on the damage tolerance of 3-D braided graphite/epoxy composites

One of the key advantages of three-dimensional braided composite materials is their high impact damage tolerance comparing with laminated composites, due to their fully integrated fibrous substrates. In this paper, the effect of different processing methods on the impact damage tolerance of braided graphite/epoxy composite is experimentally assessed. The test specimens are prepared using both of the two existing three-dimensional braiding techniques (the 4-step and the 2-step processes). After the specimens are impacted under controlled impact energy, the damage introduced is studied. Then a compression test is conducted to evaluate the compression strength of the specimens after impact.

El-Shiekh, Aly↗

Towards a damage tolerance philosophy for composite materials and structures

A damage-threshold/fail-safe approach is proposed to ensure that composite structures are both sufficiently durable for economy of operation, as well as adequately fail-safe or damage tolerant for flight safety. Matrix cracks are assumed to exist throughout the off-axis plies. Delamination onset is predicted using a strain energy release rate characterization. Delamination growth is accounted for in one of three ways: either analytically, using delamination growth laws in conjunction with strain energy release rate analyses incorporating delamination resistance curves; experimentally, using measured stiffness loss; or conservatively, assuming delamination onset corresponds to catastrophic delamination growth. Fail-safety is assessed by accounting for the accumulation of delaminations through the thickness. A tension fatigue life prediction for composite laminates is presented as a case study to illustrate how this approach may be implemented. Suggestions are made for applying the damage-threshold/fail-safe approach to compression fatigue, tension/compression fatigue, and compression strength following low velocity impact.

O'Brien, T. Kevin↗

Loading rate sensitivity of open-hole composite specimens in compression

The results are reported of an experimental study on the compressive, time-dependent behavior of graphite fiber reinforced polymer composite laminates with open holes. The effect of loading rate on compressive strength was determined for six material systems ranging from brittle epoxies to thermoplastics at both 75 F and 220 F. Specimens were loaded to failure using different loading rates. The slope of the strength versus elapsed time-to-failure curve was used to rank the materials' loading rate sensitivity. All of the materials had greater strength at 75 F than at 220 F. All the materials showed loading rate effects in the form of reduced failure strength for longer elapsed-time-to-failure. Loading rate sensitivity was less at 220 F than the same material at 70 F. However, C12000/ULTEM and IM7/8551-7 were more sensitive to loading rate than the other materials at 220 F. AS4/APC2 laminates with 24, 32, and 48 plies and 1/16 and 1/4 inch diameter holes were tested. The sensitivity to loading rate was less for either increasing number of plies or larger hole size. The failure of the specimens made from brittle resins was accompanied by extensive delaminations while the failure of the roughened systems was predominantly by shear crippling. Fewer delamination failures were observed at the higher temperature.

Lubowinski, S. J.↗

Damage and fracture of composite materials under cyclic loads

The response of composite laminates to long-term, cyclic loading conditions is dependent on mode and level of loading, material system, geometry, and laminate stacking sequence. An overview of basic damage mechanisms in notched laminates is presented. The relationships between damage and long-term response, specifically changes in residual tensile and compressive strength and life, are discussed for several composite systems with different matrix materials subjected to reversed cyclic loading.

Stinchcomb, Wayne W.↗

Response of composite materials to low velocity impact

Orthotropic and quasiisotropic laminates clamped at the edges were impacted by an instrumented falling weight. Five matrix materials, comprising a baseline epoxy, two toughened thermosets, and amorphous and crystalline thermoplastics were studied. For each material, the projected damage area and residual compression strengths and strains were determined as a function of impact energy. Principal conclusions are: (1) incipient damage associated with a prominent load drop during the impact test seems to be decisive for residual properties; (2) subtle rate effects are present with some materials; and (3) results from the small scale tests parallel those in standard tests and may be adequate for screening purposes.

Srinivasan, K.↗

Tribological properties of PM212 - A high temperature, self-lubricating, powder metallurgy composite

This paper describes a research program to develop and evaluate a new high temperature, self-lubricating powder metallurgy composite, PM212. PM212 has the same composition as the plasma-sprayed coating, PS212, which contains 70 wt percent metal-bonded chromium carbide, 15 wt percent silver and 15 wt percent barium fluoride/calcium fluoride eutectic. The carbide acts as a wear resistant matrix and the silver and fluorides act as low and high temperature lubricants, respectively. The material is prepared by sequential cold press, cold isostatic pressing and sintering techniques. In this study, hemispherically tipped wear pins of PM212 were prepared and slid against superalloy disks at temperatures from 25 to 850 C in air in a pin-on-disk tribometer. Friction coefficients range from 0.29 to 0.38 and the wear of both the composite pins and superalloy disks was moderate to low in the 10(exp -5) to 10(exp -6) cubic mm/N-m range. Preliminary tests indicate that the material has a compressive strength of at least 130 MPa over the entire temperature range of 25 to 900 C. This material has promise for use as seal inserts, bushings, small inside diameter parts and other applications where plasma-sprayed coatings are impractical or too costly.

Dellacorte, Christopher↗

Damage-Tolerant Composites Made By Stitching Carbon Fabrics

Work conducted at NASA Langley Research Center to investigate stitching combined with resin transfer molding to make composites more tolerant of damage and potentially cost competitive with metals. Composite materials tailored for damage tolerance by stitching layers of dry carbon fabric with closely spaced threads to provide reinforcement through thickness. Epoxy resin then infused into stitched preforms, and epoxy was cured. Various stitching patterns and thread materials evaluated by use of flat plate specimens. Also, blade-stiffened structural elements fabricated and tested. Stitched flat laminates showed outstanding damage tolerance, excellent compression strength in notched specimens, and acceptable fatigue behavior. Development of particular interest to aircraft and automotive industries.

Dow, Marvin B.↗

Response of composite materials to low velocity impact

Orthotropic and quasi-isotropic laminates clamped at the edges were impacted by an instrumented falling weight. Five matrix materials, comprising a baseline epoxy, two toughened thermosets, and amorphous and crystalline thermoplastics were studied. For each material, the projected damage area and residual compression strengths and strains were determined as a function of impact energy. Principal conclusions are: (1) incipient damage associated with a prominent load drop during the impact test seems to be decisive for residual properties; (2) subtle rate effects are present with some materials; and (3) results from the small scale tests parallel those in standard tests and may be adequate for screening purposes.

Srinivasan, K.↗

Delamination, durability and damage tolerance of laminated composite materials

Research exploring the role of delamination on the durability and damage tolerance of advanced composite materials is reviewed. Recent studies on the characterization of composite delamination are summarized. Recent analytical solutions for interlaminar stresses and strain energy release rates associated with common sources of delamination are also reviewed. The role of delamination in low velocity impact, residual compression strength, and in fatigue is highlighted. Delamination is shown to be the common damage mode observed in all of these problems. A Damage Threshold/Fail-safety concept for addressing composite damage tolerance is discussed.

O'Brien, T. K.↗

Compressive testing of filament-wound cylinders

An experimental investigation has been conducted on the compressive buckling and failure of filament-wound circular cylinders. This investigation identifies one of the relationships between structural performance and scale, as well as some of the causes of reduced structural performance in large-scale structures. It is hypothesized that this effect is related to two conditions: first, the number of fiber tow undulations; and second, the percentage of weak interfaces within the structure. The effect of winding pattern and the resulting location of the fiber undulations were studied by varying the winding parameters. Three types of cylinders were manufactured from Amoco T650-35/1908 graphite/epoxy preimpregnated tow with different winding sequences (0/+/-60)s, (+/-30/90)s, and (90/+/-30)s. The (90/+/-30)s cylinders were manufactured with two different winding patterns (distributed and classical) and radius-to-thickness ratios (15 and 55). All cylinders were loaded in compression to failure. Comparisons of the compressive strength and failure modes demonstrate the relationship between the winding parameters, scale, and structural performance of filament-wound composite cylinders.

Jensen, David W.↗

Discontinuously reinforced intermetallic matrix composites via XD synthesis

A review is given of recent results obtained for discontinuously reinforced intermetallic matrix composites produced using the XD process. Intermetallic matrices investigated include NiAl, multiphase NiAl + Ni2AlTi, CoAl, near-gamma titanium aluminides, and Ll2 trialuminides containing minor amounts of second phase. Such mechanical properties as low and high temperature strength, compressive and tensile creep, elastic modulus, ambient ductility, and fracture toughness are discussed as functions of reinforcement size, shape, and volume fraction. Microstructures before and after deformation are examined and correlated with measured properties. An observation of interest in many of the systems examined is 'dispersion weakening' at high temperatures and high strain rates. This behavior is not specific to the XD process; rather similar observations have been reported in other discontinuous composites. Proposed mechanisms for this behavior are presented.

Kumar, K. S.↗

Physical properties of concrete made with Apollo 16 lunar soil sample

This paper describes the first phase of the long-term investigation for the construction of concrete lunar bases. In this phase, petrographic and scanning electron microscope examinations showed that the morphology and elemental composition of the lunar soil made it suitable for use as a fine aggregate for concrete. Based on this finding, calcium aluminate cement and distilled water were mixed with the lunar soil to fabricate test specimens. The test specimens consisted of a 1-in cube, a 1/2-in cube, and three 0.12 x 0.58 x 3.15-in beam specimens. Tests were performed on these specimens to determine compressive strength, modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, and thermal coefficient of expansion. Based on examination of the material and test results, it is concluded that lunar soil can be used as a fine aggregate for concrete.

Lin, T. D.↗

Lunar concrete for construction

Feasibility of using concrete for lunar base construction was discussed recently without relevant data for the effects of vacuum on concrete. Our experimental studies performed earlier at Los Alamos have shown that concrete is stable in vacuum with no deterioration of its quality as measured by the compressive strength. Various considerations of using concrete successfully on the Moon are provided in this paper, along with specific conclusions from the existing database.

Cullingford, Hatice S.↗

Properties and uses of concrete, appendix B

Concretes that can now be formed have properties which may make them valuable for lunar or space construction. These properties include high compressive strength, good flexural strength (when reinforced), and favorable responses to temperature extremes (even increased strength at low temperatures). These and other properties of concrete are discussed.

Corley, Gene↗

Damage tolerance of a composite sandwich with interleaved foam core

A composite sandwich panel consisting of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) skins and a syntactic foam core was selected as an appropriate structural concept for the design of wind tunnel compressor blades. Interleaving of the core with tough interlayers was done to prevent core cracking and to improve damage tolerance of the sandwich. Simply supported sandwich beam specimens were subjected to low-velocity drop-weight impacts as well as high velocity ballistic impacts. The performance of the interleaved core sandwich panels was characterized by localized skin damage and minor cracking of the core. Residual compressive strength (RCS) of the skin, which was derived from flexural test, shows the expected trend of decreasing with increasing size of the damage, impact energy, and velocity. In the case of skin damage, RCS values of around 50 percent of the virgin interleaved reference were obtained at the upper impact energy range. Based on the similarity between low-velocity and ballistic-impact effects, it was concluded that impact energy is the main variable controlling damage and residual strength, where as velocity plays a minor role.

Ishai, Ori↗