10.25394/PGS.11944902.v1
Neha Shakelly
Neha
Shakelly
Characterization of Carbon Fiber-Epoxy Composite Materials
Purdue University Graduate School
2020
characterization methodology
Materials characterization
Finite element modelling results
Composite materials -- Analysis
Composite and Hybrid Materials
Aerospace Materials
Numerical Modelling and Mechanical Characterisation
Aerospace Structures
Simulation and Modelling
2020-03-10 16:12:05
Thesis
https://hammer.purdue.edu/articles/thesis/Characterization_of_Carbon_Fiber-Epoxy_Composite_Materials/11944902
<p>Characterization of a material is very important to
determine its behavior and properties in different load conditions. There are
different experimental tests that are used to determine these properties, but,
making the samples and conducting the test can be very time and labor-consuming.
The main aim of this work is to develop a digital finite element method that
can be used to predict the behavior and the distribution of various parameters
along with the specimen before or without actually conducting the experiments. This
is a part of the process of development of a virtual lab that provides a common
platform for learning and integrating different concepts required to
characterize composites. The material properties that were given as an input
for the simulations were predicted by using a micromechanical analysis of the
fiber and matrix properties that were obtained from their respective datasheets
and were validated with the experimental results. Hence, this method can be
used for the analysis of any kind of material that has basic data available on
its datasheets. Five main test methods
are discussed in this work, namely, off-axis tension, laminate tension, open
hole tension and CTE analysis, free-edge effects and mode I fracture (Double
Cantilever Beam) test. The results obtained from the simulation were compared
to the analytical and experimental results for validation. Only linear elastic
analysis was carried out for all the tensile specimen and the prediction of
failure properties is a potential extension of this work. </p>