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At least 73 records · Page 4

Tensile strength of composite sheets with unidirectional stringers and crack-like damage

The damage tolerance characteristics of metal tension panels with riveted and bonded stringers are well known. The stringers arrest unstable cracks and retard propagation of fatigue cracks. Residual strengths and fatigue lives are considerably greater than those of unstiffened or integrally stiffened sheets. The damage tolerance of composite sheets with bonded composite stringers loaded in tension was determined. Cracks in composites do not readily propagate in fatigue, at least not through fibers. Moreover, the residual strength of notched composites is sometimes even increased by fatigue loading. Therefore, the residual strength aspect of damage tolerance, and not fatigue crack propagation, was investigated. About 50 graphite/epoxy composite panels were made with two sheet layups and several stringer configurations. Crack-like slots were cut in the middle of the panels to simulate damage. The panels were instrumented and monotonically loaded in tension to failure. The tests indicate that the composite panels have considerable damage tolerance, much like metal panels. The stringers arrested cracks that ran from the crack-like slots, and the residual strengths were considerably greater than those of unstiffened composite sheets. A stress intensity factor analysis was developed to predict the failing strains of the stiffened panels. Using the analysis, a single design curve was produced for composite sheets with bonded stringers of any configuration.

Poe, C. C., Jr.↗

Development of a fatigue-life methodology for composite structures subjected to out-of-plane load components

The efforts to identify and implement a fatigue life methodology applicable to demonstrate delamination failures for use in certifying composite rotor blades are presented. The RSRA/X-Wing vehicle was a proof-of-concept stopped rotor aircraft configuration which used rotor blades primarily constructed of laminated carbon fiber. Delamination of the main spar during ground testing demonstrated that significant interlaminar stresses were produced. Analysis confirmed the presence of out-of-plane load components. The wear out (residual strength) methodology and the requirements for its implementation are discussed.

Sumich, Mark↗

Impact force as a scaling parameter

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAR PART 25) requires that a structure carry ultimate load with nonvisible impact damage and carry 70 percent of limit flight loads with discrete damage. The Air Force has similar criteria (MIL-STD-1530A). Both civilian and military structures are designed by a building block approach. First, critical areas of the structure are determined, and potential failure modes are identified. Then, a series of representative specimens are tested that will fail in those modes. The series begins with tests of simple coupons, progresses through larger and more complex subcomponents, and ends with a test on a full-scale component, hence the term 'building block.' In order to minimize testing, analytical models are needed to scale impact damage and residual strength from the simple coupons to the full-scale component. Using experiments and analysis, the present paper illustrates that impact damage can be better understood and scaled using impact force than just kinetic energy. The plate parameters considered are size and thickness, boundary conditions, and material, and the impact parameters are mass, shape, and velocity.

Poe, Clarence C., Jr.↗

Assessment of impact damage of composite rocket motor cases

This contract reviewed the available literature on mechanisms of low velocity impact damage in filament wound rocket motor cases, MDE methods to quantify damage, critical coupon level test methods, manufacturing and material process variables and empirical and analytical modeling off impact damage. The critical design properties for rocket motor cases are biaxial hoop and axial tensile strength. Low velocity impact damage is insidious because it can create serious nonvisible damage at very low impact velocities. In thick rocket motor cases the prevalent low velocity impact damage is fiber fracture and matrix cracking adjacent to the front face. In contrast, low velocity loading of thin wall cylinders induces flexure, depending on span length and the flexure induces delamination and tensile cracking on the back face wall opposed to impact occurs due to flexural stresses imposed by impact loading. Important NDE methods for rocket motor cases are non-contacting methods that allow inspection from one side. Among these are vibrothermography, and pulse-echo methods based on acoustic-ultrasonic methods. High resolution techniques such as x-ray computed tomography appear to have merit for accurate geometrical characterization of local damage to support development of analytical models of micromechanics. The challenge of coupon level testing is to reproduce the biaxial stress state that the full scale article experiences, and to determine how to scale the composite structure to model full sized behavior. Biaxial tensile testing has been performed by uniaxially tensile loading internally pressurized cylinders. This is experimentally difficult due to gripping problems and pressure containment. Much prior work focused on uniaxial tensile testing of model filament wound cylinders. Interpretation of the results of some studies is complicated by the fact that the fabrication process did not duplicate full scale manufacturing. It is difficult to scale results from testing subscale cylinders since there are significant differences in out time of the resins relative to full scale cylinder fabrication, differences in hoop fiber tensioning and unsatisfactory coupon configurations. It appears that development of a new test method for subscale cylinders is merited. Damage tolerance may be improved by material optimization that uses fiber treatments and matrix modifications to control the fiber matrix interface bonding. It is difficult to develop process optimization in subscale cylinders without also modeling the longer out times resins experience in full scale testing. A major breakthrough in characterizing the effect of impact damage on residual strength, and understanding how to scale results of subscale evaluations, will be a sound micromechanical model that described progressive failure of the composite. Such models will utilize a three dimensional stress analysis due to the complex nature of low velocity impact stresses in thick composites. When these models are coupled with non-contact NDE methods that geometrically characterize the damage and acoustic methods that characterize the effective local elastic properties, accurate assessment of residual strength from impact damage may be possible. Directions for further development are suggested.

Paris, Henry G.↗

A Statistical Analysis of Impact Ice Adhesion Strength Data Acquired with a Modified Lap Joint Test

Numerous methodologies have been utilized to measure the adhesion strength of impact ice, and the data reported in the literature varies significantly from method to method. In order to initiate an investigation to determine the cause of this disparity, a lap-joint shear test methodology that was recently developed was utilized in the Icing Research Tunnel at the NASA Glenn Research Center. Data was obtained while varying the temperature, test section velocity, liquid water content, and cloud droplet median volumetric diameter, among other parameters, over five campaigns. A new data set acquired using this new test method is presented. The results are analyzed with standard statistical methodologies and demonstrate a strong correlation between the apparent adhesion strength of ice and temperature, annealing time, and heating time. Observations during the test and analysis of the results suggest the presence of large residual stresses in the samples, which is in agreement with prior work. Due to the nature of the test methodology, and all known ice adhesion test methodologies, the measured, or apparent, adhesion strength is geometry dependent, a fact emphasized by the results presented here. The data was organized both cumulatively and independently by result code. Trends in the data are discussed in the context of causal physical mechanisms. The data shows the apparent adhesion strength was not linear with temperature, liquid water content, annealing time, and other variables. Short-term heating of the samples was shown to have negligible effect, and the apparent adhesion strength had a flat trend with velocity.

Ice Adhesion↗

A methodology to predict damage initiation, damage growth and residual strength in titanium matrix composites

In this research, a methodology to predict damage initiation, damage growth, fatigue life, and residual strength in titanium matrix composites (TMC) is outlined. Emphasis was placed on micromechanics-based engineering approaches. Damage initiation was predicted using a local effective strain approach. A finite element analysis verified the prevailing assumptions made in the formulation of this model. Damage growth, namely, fiber-bridged matrix crack growth, was evaluated using a fiber bridging (FB) model which accounts for thermal residual stresses. This model combines continuum fracture mechanics and micromechanics analyses yielding stress-intensity factor solutions for fiber-bridged matrix cracks. It is assumed in the FB model that fibers in the wake of the matrix crack are idealized as a closure pressure, and an unknown constant frictional shear stress is assumed to act along the debond length of the bridging fibers. This frictional shear stress was used as a curve fitting parameter to the available experimental data. Fatigue life and post-fatigue residual strength were predicted based on the axial stress in the first intact 0 degree fiber calculated using the FB model and a three-dimensional finite element analysis.

Bakuckas, J. G., Jr.↗

An assessment of buffer strips for improving damage tolerance

Graphite/epoxy panels with buffer strips were tested in tension to measure their residual strength with crack-like damage. Panels were made with 45/0/-45/90(2S) and 45/0/450(2S) layups. The buffer strips were parallel to the loading directions. They were made by replacing narrow strips of the 0 deg graphite plies with strips of either 0 deg S-Glass/epoxy or Kevlar-49/epoxy on either a one for one or a two for one basis. In a third case, O deg graphite/epoxy was used as the buffer material and thin, perforated Mylar strips were placed between the 0 deg piles and the cross-plies to weaken the interfaces and thus to isolate the 0 deg plies. Some panels were made with buffer strips of different widths and spacings. The buffer strips arrested the cracks and increased the residual strengths significantly over those plain laminates without buffer strips. A shear-lag type stress analysis correctly predicted the effects of layups, buffer material, buffer strip width and spacing, and the number of plies of buffer material.

Poe, C. C., Jr.↗

Tensile strength of composite sheets with unidirectional stringers and crack-like damage: A brief report

The residual strength of composite sheets with bonded composite stringers loaded in tension was determined. The results are summarized. About 50 graphite/epoxy composite panels with crack-like slots were monotonically loaded in tension to failure. Both sheet layup and stringer configuration were varied. The composite panels have considerable damage tolerance. The stringers arrested cracks that ran from the crack-like slots, and the residual strengths were considerably greater than those of unstiffened composite sheets. A stress-intensity factor analysis was developed to predict the failing strains of the stiffened panels. Using the analysis, a single design curve was produced for composite sheets with bonded stringers of any configuration.

Poe, C. C., Jr.↗

Crack Growth Simulation and Residual Strength Prediction in Airplane Fuselages

This is the final report for the NASA funded project entitled "Crack Growth Prediction Methodology for Multi-Site Damage." The primary objective of the project was to create a capability to simulate curvilinear fatigue crack growth and ductile tearing in aircraft fuselages subjected to widespread fatigue damage. The second objective was to validate the capability by way of comparisons to experimental results. Both objectives have been achieved and the results are detailed herein. In the first part of the report, the crack tip opening angle (CTOA) fracture criterion, obtained and correlated from coupon tests to predict fracture behavior and residual strength of built-up aircraft fuselages, is discussed. Geometrically nonlinear, elastic-plastic, thin shell finite element analyses are used to simulate stable crack growth and to predict residual strength. Both measured and predicted results of laboratory flat panel tests and full-scale fuselage panel tests show substantial reduction of residual strength due to the occurrence of multi-site damage (MSD). Detailed comparisons of n stable crack growth history, and residual strength between the predicted and experimental results are used to assess the validity of the analysis methodology. In the second part of the report, issues related to crack trajectory prediction in thin shells; an evolving methodology uses the crack turning phenomenon to improve the structural integrity of aircraft structures are discussed, A directional criterion is developed based on the maximum tangential stress theory, but taking into account the effect of T-stress and fracture toughness orthotropy. Possible extensions of the current crack growth directional criterion to handle geometrically and materially nonlinear problems are discussed. The path independent contour integral method for T-stress evaluation is derived and its accuracy is assessed using a p- and hp-version adaptive finite element method. Curvilinear crack growth is simulated in coupon tests and in full-scale fuselage panel tests. Both T-stress and fracture toughness orthotropy are found to be essential to predict the observed crack paths. The analysis methodology and software program (FRANC3D/STAGS) developed herein allows engineers to maintain aging aircraft economically while insuring continuous airworthiness. Consequently, it will improve the technology to support the safe operation of the current aircraft fleet as well as the design of more damage-tolerant aircraft for the next generation fleet.

Chen, Chuin-Shan↗

A Damage-Dependent Finite Element Analysis for Fiber-Reinforced Composite Laminates

A progressive damage methodology has been developed to predict damage growth and residual strength of fiber-reinforced composite structure with through penetrations such as a slit. The methodology consists of a damage-dependent constitutive relationship based on continuum damage mechanics. Damage is modeled using volume averaged strain-like quantities known as internal state variables and is represented in the equilibrium equations as damage induced force vectors instead of the usual degradation and modification of the global stiffness matrix.

Coats, Timothy W.↗

An assessment of buffer strips for improving damage tolerance of composite laminates

Graphite/epoxy panels with buffer strips were tested in tension to measure their residual strength with crack-like damage. Panels were made with (45/0/-45/90)2S and (45/0/-45/0)2S layups. The buffer strips were parallel to the loading direction. They were made by replacing narrow strips of the 0 deg graphite plies with strips of either 0 deg S-Glass/epoxy or Kevlar-90/epoxy on either a one-for-one or a two-for-one basis. In a third case, 0 deg graphite/epoxy was used as the buffer material and thin, perforated Mylar strips were placed between the 0 deg plies and the cross-plies to weaken the interfaces and thus to isolate the 0 deg plies. Some panels were made with buffer strips of different width and spacings. The buffer strips arrested the cracks and increased the residual strengths significantly over those of plain laminates without buffer strips. A shear-lag type stress analysis correctly predicted the effects of layup, buffer material, buffer strip width and spacing, and the number of plies of buffer material

Poe, C. C., Jr.↗

Challenges Facing Design and Analysis Tools

The design and analysis of future aerospace systems will strongly rely on advanced engineering analysis tools used in combination with risk mitigation procedures. The implications of such a trend place increased demands on these tools to assess off-nominal conditions, residual strength, damage propagation, and extreme loading conditions in order to understand and quantify these effects as they affect mission success. Advances in computer hardware such as CPU processing speed, memory, secondary storage, and visualization provide significant resources for the engineer to exploit in engineering design. The challenges facing design and analysis tools fall into three primary areas. The first area involves mechanics needs such as constitutive modeling, contact and penetration simulation, crack growth prediction, damage initiation and progression prediction, transient dynamics and deployment simulations, and solution algorithms. The second area involves computational needs such as fast, robust solvers, adaptivity for model and solution strategies, control processes for concurrent, distributed computing for uncertainty assessments, and immersive technology. Traditional finite element codes still require fast direct solvers which when coupled to current CPU power enables new insight as a result of high-fidelity modeling. The third area involves decision making by the analyst. This area involves the integration and interrogation of vast amounts of information - some global in character while local details are critical and often drive the design. The proposed presentation will describe and illustrate these areas using composite structures, energy-absorbing structures, and inflatable space structures. While certain engineering approximations within the finite element model may be adequate for global response prediction, they generally are inadequate in a design setting or when local response prediction is critical. Pitfalls to be avoided and trends for emerging analysis tools will be described.

Knight, Norman F., Jr.↗

Cold Spray Deposition of 304L Stainless Steel to Mitigate Chloride-Induced Stress Corrosion Cracking in Canisters for Used Nuclear Fuel Storage

A feasibility study of the cold spray deposition process of 304L stainless steel on 304L stainless steel substrates as a mitigation method for chloride-induced stress corrosion cracking (CISCC) has been investigated under various substrate conditions. The study is aimed at the application of this technology to mitigate CISCC that may potentially occur in or nearthe fusion welded regions of stainless steel canisters in Dry Cask Storage System (DCSS) for used nuclear fuels. Spherical gas-atomized 304L stainless steel powder, in the size range of 25 µm to 44 µm, was used as a feedstock powder for the cold spray process. The powder was deposited on four types of 304L substrates with various surface conditions: as-polished, oxidized, cold-rolled, plates with prototypical CISCC. The effects of cold spray parameters on quality of cold spray coatings were investigated. Thickness, porosity, and phases in the as-deposited materials were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), and correlated with microhardness and adhesion strength measured via micro-indentation and ASTM C633 pulling test, respectively. XRD analysis of the coatings was also conducted to examine the effects of cold spray condition on residual stress state in the coating. Detailed cross-sectional examination of coating/substrate interfaces was performed with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Dense and continuous coatings with good adhesion strength and hardness were produced for the various substrate conditions by adjusting cold spray parameters. The results demonstrate that cold spray stainless steel coating is a viable option to provide a physical barrier against CISCC in fusion weld regions of stainless steel in corrosive chloride salt-bearing environments.

Dry Cask Storage Systems, cold spray, 304L stainle↗

Nonlinear Response and Residual Strength of Damaged Stiffened Shells Subjected to Combined Loads

The results of an analytical study of the nonlinear response of stiffened fuselage shells with long cracks are presented. The shells are modeled with a hierarchical modeling strategy and analyzed with a nonlinear shell analysis code that maintains the shell in a nonlinear equilibrium state while the crack is grown. The analysis accurately accounts for global and local structural response phenomena. Fuselage skins, frames stringers and failsafe straps are included in the models. Results are presented for various combinations of internal pressure and mechanical bending, vertical shear and torsion loads, and the effects of crack orientation and location on the shell response are described. These results indicate that the nonlinear interaction between the in-plane stress resultants and the out-of-plane displacements near a crack can significantly affect the structural response of the shell, and the stress-intensity factors associated with a crack that are used to predict residual strength. The effects of representative combined loading conditions on the stress-intensity factors associated with a crack are presented. The effects of varying structural parameters on the stress-intensity factors associated with a crack, and on self-similar and non-self-similar crack-growth are also presented.

Starnes, James H., Jr.↗

Relevance of impacter shape to nonvisible damage and residual tensile strength of a thick graphite/epoxy laminate

A study was made to determine the relevance of impacter shape to nonvisible damage and tensile residual strength of a 36 mm (1.4 in.) thick graphite/epoxy motor case. The shapes of the impacters were as follows: 12.7 mm (0.5 in.) and 25.4 mm (1.0 in.) diameter hemispheres, a sharp corner, and a 6.3 mm (0.25 in.) diameter bolt-like rod. The investigation revealed that damage initiated when the contact pressure exceeded a critical level. However, the damage was not visible on the surface until an even higher pressure was exceeded. The damage on the surface consisted of a crater shaped like the impacter, and the damage below the surface consisted of broken fibers. The impact energy to initiate damage or cause visible damage on the surface increased approximately with impacter diameter to the third power. The reduction in strength for nonvisible damage increased with increasing diameter, 9 and 30 percent for the 12.7 mm (0.5 in.) and 25.4 mm (1.0 in.) diameter hemispheres, respectively. The corner impacter made visible damage on the surface for even the smallest impact energy. The rod impacter acted like a punch and sliced through the composite. Even so, the critical level of pressure to initiate damage was the same for the rod and hemispherical impacters. Factors of safety for nonvisible damage increased with increasing kinetic energy of impact. The effects of impacter shape on impact force, damage size, damage visibility, and residual tensile strength were predicted quite well assuming Hertzian contact and using maximum stress criteria and a surface crack analysis.

Poe, C. C., Jr.↗

Relevance of impacter shape to nonvisible damage and residual tensile strength of a thick graphite/epoxy laminate

A study was made to determine the relevance of impacter shape to nonvisible damage and tensile residual strength of a 36 mm thick graphite/epoxy motor case. The shapes of the impacters were as follows: 12.7 mm and 25.4 mm diameter hemispheres, a sharp corner, and a 6.3 mm diameter bolt-like rod. The investigation revealed that damage initiated when the contact pressure exceeded a critical level. However, the damage was not visible on the surface until an even higher pressure was exceeded. The impact energy to initiate damage or cause visible damage on the surface increased approximately with impacter diameter to the third power. The reduction in strength for nonvisible damage increased with increasing diameter, 9 and 30 percent for the 12.7 mm and 25.4 mm diameter hemispheres, respectively. The corner impacter made visible damage on the surface for even the smallest impact energy. The rod impacter acted like a punch and sliced through the composite. Even so, the critical level of pressure to initiate damage was the same for the rod and hemispherical impacters. Factors of safety for nonvisible damage increased with increasing kinetic energy of impact. The effects of impacter shape on impact force, damage size, damage visibility, and residual tensile strength were predicted quite well assuming Hertzian contact and using maximum stress criteria and a surface crack analysis.

Poe, Clarence C., Jr.↗

Statistical Analysis of Strength Data for an Aerospace Aluminum Alloy

Aerospace vehicles are produced in limited quantities that do not always allow development of MIL-HDBK-5 A-basis design allowables. One method of examining production and composition variations is to perform 100% lot acceptance testing for aerospace Aluminum (Al) alloys. This paper discusses statistical trends seen in strength data for one Al alloy. A four-step approach reduced the data to residuals, visualized residuals as a function of time, grouped data with quantified scatter, and conducted analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Neergaard, Lynn↗

Statistical Analysis of Strength Data for an Aerospace Aluminum Alloy

Aerospace vehicles are produced in limited quantities that do not always allow development of MIL-HDBK-5 A-basis design allowables. One method of examining production and composition variations is to perform 100% lot acceptance testing for aerospace Aluminum (Al) alloys. This paper discusses statistical trends seen in strength data for one Al alloy. A four-step approach reduced the data to residuals, visualized residuals as a function of time, grouped data with quantified scatter, and conducted analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Neergaard, L.↗