Characteristics composite materials

For FRP composite materials, characteristic values are required for at least the following elastic constants or material properties ... 

The composite material exhibits a quasi linear behaviour until failure in compression its modulus is about 37000 N/mm and its strength 475 N/mm. These composite material characteristics are reliable they have been measured on 18 and 36 mm diameter tubes as well From the comparison between the theoretical and measured distribution of forces in the members, it appears that the geometrical defects of the trusses have an order of magnitude of 2 mm. Strain measurements show also that the mean modulus in the truss can deviate +3% from the modulus measured on samples... 

The properties of fillers which induence a given end use are many. The overall value of a filler is a complex function of intrinsic material characteristics, eg, tme density, melting point, crystal habit, and chemical composition and of process-dependent factors, eg, particle-si2e distribution, surface chemistry, purity, and bulk density. Fillers impart performance or economic value to the compositions of which they are part. These values, often called functional properties, vary according to the nature of the appHcation. A quantification of the functional properties per unit cost in many cases provides a vaUd criterion for filler comparison and selection. The following are summaries of key filler properties and values. 

CH2—CI2—) —(—CF2— CFH—) (39). Ceramic crystals have a higher piezoelectric efficiency. Their high acoustic impedance compared to body tissues necessitates impedance matching layers between the piezoelectric and the tissue. These layers are similar in function to the antireflective coatings on a lens. Polymer piezoelectric materials possess a more favorable impedance relative to body tissues but have poorer performance characteristics. Newer transducer materials are piezoelectric composites containing ceramic crystals embedded in a polymer matrix (see Composite materials, polymer-MATRIX Piezoelectrics). 

A composite material (1) is a material consisting of two or more physically and/or chemically distinct, suitably arranged or distributed phases, generally having characteristics different from those of any components in isolation. Usually one component acts as a matrix in which the reinforcing phase is distributed. When the continuous phase or matrix is a metal, the composite is a metal-matrix composite (MMC). The reinforcement can be in the form of particles, whiskers, short fibers, or continuous fibers (see Composite materials). 

Croff, A. G., 1983, A Versatile Computer Code for Calculating the Nuclide Compositions and Characteristics of Nuclear Material, Nucl. Technol. 62, p 335, September. 

Numerous multiphase composite materials exhibit more than one characteristic of the various classes, fibrous, laminated, or particulate composite materials, just discussed. For example, reinforced concrete is both particulate (because the concrete is composed of gravel in a cement-paste binder) and fibrous (because of the steel reinforcement). 

Composite materials have many mechanical behavior characteristics that are different from those of more conventional engineering materials. Some characteristics are merely modifications of conventional behavior others are totally new and require new analytical and experimental procedures. 

The inherent anisotropy (most often only orthotropy) of composite materials leads to mechanical behavior characteristics that are quite different from those of conventional isotropic materials. The behavior of isotropic, orthotropic, and anisotropic materials under loadings of normal stress and shear stress is shown in Figure 1-4 and discussed in the following paragraphs. 

The foregoing characteristics of the mechanical behavior of composite materials have been presented in a qualitative manner without proof. In subsequent chapters, these characteristics will be demonstrated to exist, and further quantitative observations will be made. 

The B-2 stealth bomber in Figure 1-38 is made by Northrop Grumman. Virtually all external parts are made of various composite materials because of their radar-absorption characteristics and/or their capability to be formed to shapes that naturally lower the radar cross section of the plane. However, the details are not publicly available, nor are they for the Lockheed Martin F-117A stealth fighter. 

A key element in the experimental determination of the stiffness and strength characteristics of a lamina is the imposition of a uniform stress state in the specimen. Such loading is relatively easy for isotropic materials. However, for composite materials, the orthotropy introduces coupling between normal stresses and shear strains and between shear stresses and normal and shear strains when loaded in non-principal material coordinates for which the stress-strain relations are given in Equation (2.88). Thus, special care must be taken to ensure obtaining... 

The elasticity approaches depend to a great extent on the specific geometry of the composite material as well as on the characteristics of the fibers and the matrix. The fibers can be hollow or solid, but are usually circular in cross section, although rectangular-cross-section fibers are not uncommon. In addition, fibeie rejjsuallyjsotropic, but can have more complex material behavior, e.g., graphite fibers are transversely isotropic. 

Prediction of the strength of fiber-reinforced composite materials has not achieved the near-esoteric levels of the stiffness predictions studied in the preceding sections. Nevertheless, there are many interesting physical models for the strength characteristics of a matrix reinforced by fibers. Most of the models represent a very high degree of integration of physical observation with the mechanical description of a phenomenon. 

Stephen W. Tsai, Strength Characteristics of Composite Materials, NASA CR-224, April 1965. 

Obviously, the foregoing description of problems in the mechanics of composite materials is incomplete. Some topics do not fit well within the logical framework just described. Other topics are too advanced for an introductory book, even at the graduate level. Thus, the rest of this chapter is devoted to a brief discussion of some basic lamina and laminate analysis and behavior characteristics that are not included in preceding chapters. 

Composite materials have many distinctive characteristics reiative to isotropic materials that render application of linear elastic fracture mechanics difficult. The anisotropy and heterogeneity, both from the standpoint of the fibers versus the matrix, and from the standpoint of multiple laminae of different orientations, are the principal problems. The extension to homogeneous anisotropic materials should be straightfor-wrard because none of the basic principles used in fracture mechanics is then changed. Thus, the approximation of composite materials by homogeneous anisotropic materials is often made. Then, stress-intensity factors for anisotropic materials are calculated by use of complex variable mapping techniques. 

Viscoelastic characteristics of composite materials usually result from a viscoelastic-matrix material such as epoxy resin. General stress analysis of viscoelastic composites was discussed by Schapery [6-54]. An important application to laminated plates was made by Sims [6-55]. 

You should learn and digest the very new and different characteristics of composite materials as actually used in structures as compared to what you are familiar with in metal structures. You must know the reasons why composite materials are used. 

The final area of concern is to develop a practical design philosophy for composite structures. Is there a philosophy that will enable us to account for and accommodate all the essential behavioral characteristics of composite materials Can we do it without getting bogged down in overly complicated issues ... 

The fundamental objective in this section is to describe the factors and procedures to select the right material for a specific structural application. The right stuff for a material, as for a fighter pilot or an astronaut, is a complex combination of characteristics. To select the proper material requires being able to characterize and evaluate various composite materials (or metalsl) and to compare their attractive characteristics with the behavioral features required for a particular structure. Finally, a materials selection example of a space truss design problem will be addressed. 

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