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At least 1,099 records · Page 61

Comparative evaluation of woven graphite-epoxy composites

A comparative evaluation of some of the mechanical properties of woven graphite-epoxy composites have been discussed in this report. In particular the types of weaves and the resin contents have been chosen for comparison. The types of weaves selected are plain weaves, satin weave and tri-directional weave. The composites made of these fabrics have been compared to composites made from unidirectional tapes under static and fatigue loading. During static loading acoustic emission events have been monitored. Also, examinations of fracture surface and polished sections of specimens away from the fracture surface under an electron microscope have been discussed.

Hanagud, S.↗

Low cost fabrication of graphite epoxy column elements for large space structures

A procedure for fabricating graphite epoxy column elements used in the construction of large space platforms is described. Dry fiber is wound on a tapered aluminum mandrel in the LMSC vertical winding machine, and resin is injected between the mandrel and an outer sleeve. The winding and injection take place at elevated temperature to minimize the thermal expansion problems that arise in curing a tube on an aluminum mandrel when the end fittings are integrally wound.

Bluck, R. M.↗

Resistance welding graphite-fiber composites

High-strength joints are welded in seconds in carbon-reinfored thermoplastic beams. Resistance-welding electrode applies heat and pressure to joint and is spring-loaded to follow softening material to maintain contact; it also holds parts together for cooling and hardening. Both transverse and longitudinal configurations can be welded. Adhesive bonding and encapsulation are more time consuming methods and introduce additional material into joint, while ultrasonic heating can damage graphite fibers in composite.

Lamoureux, R. T.↗

Hygrothermal damage mechanisms in graphite-epoxy composites

T300/5209 and T300/5208 graphite epoxy laminates were studied experimentally and analytically in order to: (1) determine the coupling between applied stress, internal residual stress, and moisture sorption kinetics; (2) examine the microscopic damage mechanisms due to hygrothermal cycling; (3) evaluate the effect of absorbed moisture and hygrothermal cycling on inplane shear response; (4) determine the permanent loss of interfacial bond strength after moisture absorption and drying; and (5) evaluate the three dimensional stress state in laminates under a combination of hygroscopic, thermal, and mechanical loads. Specimens were conditioned to equilibrium moisture content under steady exposure to 55% or 95% RH at 70 C or 93 C. Some specimens were tested subsequent to moisture conditioning and 100 cycles between -54 C and either 70 C or 93 C.

Crossman, F. W.↗

Novel approaches for alleviation of electrical hazards of graphite-fiber composites

Four basically different approaches were considered: gasification of fibers, retention in the matrix, clumping to prevent entrainment, and electrical insulation of fibers. The techniques used to achieve them are described in some detail. These involved surface treatment of fibers to improve the wettability of fibers and coating the fibers with the selected substances before laying them up for composite fabrication. Thermogravimetric analyses were performed on the plain and treated fibers in inert (nitrogen, argon) and reactive (air) atmospheres. The treated fibers embedded in epoxy were ignited in a Bunsen flame to determine the efficiency of these treatments. A simple apparatus was assembled to detect the time for the first short circuit (in a typical electrical circuit) when exposed to the combustion products from a graphite fiber composite fire. The state-of-the-art and treated fibers cast in typical epoxy were burned and ranked for potential success. It was inferred that the gasification schemes appear promising when reduction or oxidation is tried. It was also found that some very promising candidates were available for the clumping and for the electrical insulation of fibers.

Ramohalli, K.↗

Increased fracture toughness of graphite-epoxy composites through intermittent interlaminar bonding

Intermittent interlaminar bonding, which can lead to a large increase in the fracture surface area, was achieved through the introduction of thin perforated Mylar between the layers of a multi-layer continuous-filament graphite-epoxy composite. For the best optimum condition included in this study, fracture toughness was increased from about 100 kJ/sq m for untreated specimens to an average of about 500 kJ/sq m, while tensile strength dropped from 500 MPa to 400 MPa, and elastic modulus remained the same at about 75 GPa. An approximate analysis is presented to explain the observed improvement in toughness.

Felbeck, D. K.↗

Lubrication and wear mechanisms of polyimide-bonded graphite fluoride films subjected to low contact stress

The tribological properties of polyimide-bonded graphite fluoride films were studied with a pin-on-disk friction apparatus. A 440 C HT stainless steel rider with a 0.95 millimeter diameter flat area was slid against the film in order to achieve a light, closely controlled contact stress. A 1 kilogram load was applied to this flat to give a projected contact stress of 14 megapascals. Two stages of lubrication were operating. In the first stage, the film supported the load and the lubricating mechanism appeared to be the shear of a thin surface layer of the film between the rider and the bulk of the film. The second stage began after the original film was worn away, and the lubricating mechanism appeared to be the shear of very thin lubricant layers between the flat area on the rider and flat plateaus generated on the sandblasted asperities of the metallic substrate. The major difference between the lubricating mechanisms of the hemispherical and flat riders was that the flat wore through the film much more slowly than did the hemisphere.

Fusaro, R. L.↗

Stress analysis and buckling of J-stiffened graphite-epoxy panel

A graphite epoxy shear panel with bonded on J stiffeners was investigated. The panel, loaded to buckling in a picture frame shear test is described. Two finite element models, each of which included the doubler material bonded to the panel skin under the stiffeners and at the panel edges, were used to make a stress analysis of the panel. The shear load distributions in the panel from two commonly used boundary conditions, applied shear load and applied displacement, were compared with the results from one of the finite element models that included the picture frame test fixture.

Davis, R. C.↗

Space fabrication: Graphite composite truss welding and cap forming subsystems

An automated beam builder for the fabrication of space structures is described. The beam builder forms a triangular truss 1.3 meters on a side. Flat strips of preconsolidated graphite fiber fabric in a polysulfone matrix are coiled in a storage canister. Heaters raise the material to forming temperature then the structural cap section is formed by a series of rollers. After cooling, cross members and diagonal tension cords are ultrasonically welded in place to complete the truss. The stability of fabricated structures and composite materials is also examined.

Jenkins, L. M.↗

Evaluation of micron size carbon fibers released from burning graphite composites

Quantitative estimates were developed of micron carbon fibers released during the burning of graphite composites. Evidence was found of fibrillated particles which were the predominant source of the micron fiber data obtained from large pool fire tests. The fibrillation phenomena were attributed to fiber oxidation effects caused by the fire environment. Analysis of propane burn test records indicated that wind sources can cause considerable carbon fiber oxidation. Criteria estimates were determined for the number of micron carbon fibers released during an aircraft accident. An extreme case analysis indicated that the upper limit of the micron carbon fiber concentration level was only about half the permissible asbestos ceiling concentration level.

Sussholz, B.↗

Ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation of impact-damaged graphite fiber composite

Unidirectional Hercules AS/3501-6 graphite fiber epoxy composites were subjected to repeated controlled low-velocity drop weight impacts in the laminate direction. The degradation was ultrasonically monitored using through-thickness attenuation and a modified stress wave factor (SWF). There appears to be strong correlations between the number of drop-weight impacts, the residual tensile strength, the through-thickness attenuation, and the SWF. The results are very encouraging with respect to the NDE potential of both of these ultrasonic parameters to provide strength characterizations in virgin as well as impact-damaged fiber composite structures.

Williams, J. H., Jr.↗

Thermal cycling graphite-polyimide

The effects of repetitive thermal cycling on the temperature-thermal deformation relation of graphite-polyimide were determined. The bending and axial strains, measured with strain gages, of unsymmetric 0 deg sub 2/90 deg sub 2 and 0 deg sub 4/90 deg sub 4 laminates were used as an indication of thermal deformation. The strains were measured as a function of temperature and two temperature ranges were used, room temperature to 180 C and room temperature to 315 C. Five cycles were run in each temperature range and the cycling was done in quasistatic fashion. The response of a flat 0 deg sub 8 laminate was measured as were the effects of repetitive cycling on the strain gages themselves. A piece-wise linear theory, based on classical lamination theory and using the variation of mechanical and thermal expansion properties with temperature, was compared with the experimental results. The correlation between theoretical predictions and experimental results for the thinner laminate was poor.

Hyer, M. W.↗

The structural behavior of a graphite-polymide honeycomb sandwich panel with quasi-isotropic face sheets and an orthotropic core

The results of a series of tests of graphite-polyimide honeycomb sandwich panels are presented. The panels were 1.22 m long, 0.508 m wide, and approximately 13.3 m thick. The face sheets were a T-300/PMR-15 fabric in a quasi-isotropic layup and were 0.279 mm thick. The core was Hexcel HRH 327-3/16 - 4.0 glass reinforced polyimide honeycomb, 12.7 mm thick. Three panels were used in the test: one was cut into smaller pieces for testing as beam, compression, and shear specimens; a second panel was used for plate bending tests; the third panel was used for in-plane stability tests. Presented are the experimental results of four point bending tests, short block compression tests, core transverse shear modulus, three point bending tests, vibration tests, plate bending tests, and panel stability tests. The results of the first three tests are used to predict the results of some of the other tests. The predictions and experimental results are compared, and the agreement is quite good.

Hyer, M. W.↗

Development of a fire test facility for graphite fiber-reinforced composites

A number of modifications were added to the Model 25 facility to make it specifically applicable for composite material screening tests. Most significant was the development of hardware for trapping fibers released during test and isolating them for quantitative measurement. Capability was added for increasing test section velocities and increasing the range of air/fuel ratios available from very rich to very lean. A provision was added for agitation of the test specimen and the combustion gases by a pulsating gas supply. A variety of specimen configurations was evaluated by an extensive series of tests on a graphite-epoxy reference composite which is representative of material currently used in advanced aircraft. A standard test technique and specimen configuration were established which was satisfactory for the reference composite. A test program was then performed on several alternate composite materials to verify the validity of the test method for relative evaluation of a variety of composite materials.

Alexander, J. G.↗

Transverse microcracking in Celion 6000/PMR-15 graphite-polyimide

The effects of room temperature tensile loading and five thermal loadings, in the range -320 F (-196C) to 625F (330CC), upon the development of transverse microcracks (TVM) in Celion 6000/PMR-15 graphite-polyimide laminates were investigated. Microcracks were observed using a replicating technique, microscopy and X-ray. The mechanical or thermal load at which microcracking initiates and the ply residual stresses were predicted using laminate analysis with stress- and temperature-dependent material properties.

Mills, J. S.↗

The spectral opacity of triatomic carbon measured in a graphite tube furnace over the 280 to 600 nm wavelength range

The opacity of linear triatomic carbon (C3) was measured in a graphite tube furnace from 280 to 600 nm to supplement the earlier measurements of Brewer and Engelke. The spectral cross section was estimated from the opacities using temperature profiles determined pyrometrically and a revised heat of formation delta H = 198 kcal/mole). The cross section was found to be nonnegligible over the range 300 to 500 nm and the electronic oscillator strength based on the total cross section estimate was 0.02.

Snow, W. L.↗

The effects of thermal cycling on the thermal deformation of graphite-polyimide

The effects of repetitive thermal cycling on the thermal deformation of graphite-fiber-reinforced polyimide laminates are investigated. Unsymmetric and unidirectional laminate specimens were cycled in an oven between room temperature and 180 or 315 C five times, and temperature and deformation were recorded as a function of time in order to measure thermal deformation. The results of the lower temperature cycling reveal a hysteresis-like effect in the temperature-thermal deformation relation for a single cycle, while no differences are detected from one cycle to the next. The response of an eight-layer curved specimen is found to agree well with predictions based on a piecewise-linear lamination theory, however, four-layer laminate response could not be explained. The results of the high-temperature tests also indicate a dependence of the strain on whether the specimen was being heated or cooled, however quantitative results are considered unreliable, due to strain gage difficulties.

Hyer, M. W.↗