• Advances in nano research
• /
• v.16 no.5
• /
• pp.509-519
• /
• 2024

In this study, the static analysis of carbon nanotube-reinforced composites (CNTRC) beams resting on a Winkler-Pasternak elastic foundation is presented. The developed theories account for higher-order variation of transverse shear strain through the depth of the beam and satisfy the stress-free boundary conditions on the top and bottom surfaces of the beam. To study the effect of carbon nanotubes distribution in functionally graded (FG-CNT), we introduce in the equation of CNT volume fraction a new exponent equation. The SWCNTs are assumed to be aligned and distributed in the polymeric matrix with different patterns of reinforcement. The rule of mixture is used to describe the material properties of the CNTRC beams. The governing equations were derived by employing Hamilton's principle. The models presented in this work are numerically provided to verify the accuracy of the present theory. The analytical solutions are presented, and the obtained results are compared with the existing solutions to verify the validity of the developed theories. Many parameters are investigated, such as the Pasternak shear modulus parameter, the Winkler modulus parameter, the volume fraction, and the order of the exponent in the volume fraction equation. New results obtained from bending and stresses are presented and discussed in detail. From the obtained results, it became clear the influence of the exponential CNTs distribution and Winkler-Pasternak model improved the mechanical properties of the CNTRC beams.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.190-196
• /
• 2024

The bipolar plate is a crucial element of the vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) as it serves as both the electrical conduit and the structural support for the cell within the VRFB stack. Although, the graphite material is primarily used for the bipolar plate due to its excellent electrical conductivity, a significant limitation of performance of the VRFB is present due to high interfacial contact resistance (ICR) arises between the electrode and bipolar plate in the cell stack. This study aims to develop an integrated electrode-bipolar plate assembly that will address the limitations of the ICR. The integrated assembly was constructed using a single carbon felt with thermoplastic and thermoset polymers utilizing hot press method. Experimental results verify that the bipolar plate assembly exhibits reduced area specific resistance (ASR) due to the continuous electrical path. Additionally, from the charge/discharge cell test results, the integrated assembly shows improved cell performance. Therefore, the developed integrated electrode-bipolar plate assembly can serve as a substitute for the conventional bipolar plate and electrode assembly.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
• /
• v.15 no.5
• /
• pp.726-736
• /
• 2003

Concrete columns confined with high-strength fiber composites can enhance its strength as well as maximum strain. In recent years, several equations have been developed to predict the behavior of the concrete columns confined with fiber composites. While the developed equations can predict the compressive strength of the confined columns with reasonable agreement, these equations are not successful in predicting the observed maximum strain of the columns. In this paper, a total of 61 test results is analysed to propose an equation to predict both compressive strength and maximum strain of concrete cylinders. The proposed equation takes into account the effects of confining pressure and cylinder size. Furthermore, in order to verify the proposed stress-strain curve for concrete cylinders, six cylindrical specimens were tested. Comparisons between the observed and calculated stress-strain curves of the tested cylinders showed reasonable agreement.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.18 no.11
• /
• pp.583-591
• /
• 2008

In this study, two series of CNT/$TiO_2$ electrodes were prepared. The decrease of surface area compared with that of the pristine carbon nanotubes (CNTs) indicated the blocking of micropores on the surface of the CNTs; was further supported by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and field emission SEM (FE-SEM) observations. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed that the CNT/$TiO_2$ composites contained a mix of anatase and rutile forms of $TiO_2$ particles when the precursor was $TiO_2$ powder, whereas when the precursor was Ti ($OC_4H_7$) (TNB), the composites contained only the typical single and clear anatase $TiO_2$ particles. The energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) spectra showed the presence of C, O and Ti peaks for all samples. It was found that catalytic decomposition of methylene blue (MB) solution could be attributed to synthetic effects between the $TiO_2$ photocatalysis and electro-assisted CNTs network, and that photoelectrocatalytic oxidation increased with an increase of CNT composition. It was also found that the photoelectrocatalytic oxidation efficiency for MB is higher than that of photocatalytic oxidation. Moreover, the CNT/$TiO_2$ composites catalyst prepared by the impregnation method demonstrates higher photoelectrocatalytic activity than the mechanical mixture with the same CNT content.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.42-54
• /
• 1999

FMLC(Fiber-Metal Laminate Composites) is a new structural material combining thin metal laminate with adhesive fiber prepreg, it nearly include all the advantage of metallic materials, for example: good plasticity, impact resistance, processibility, light weight and excellent fatigue properties. This research studied the optimum design of the FMLC subject to various loading conditions using genetic algorithm. The finite element method based on the shear deformation theory was used for the analysis of FMLC. Tasi-Hill failure criterion and Miser yield criterion were taken as fitness functions of the fiber prepreg and the metal laminate, respectively. The design variables were fiber orientation angles. In genetic algorithm, the tournament selection and the uniform crossover method were used. The elitist model was also used to be effective evolution strategy and the creeping random search method was adopted in order to approach a solution with high accuracy. Optimization results were given for various loading conditions and compared with CFRP(Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic). The results show that the FMLC is more excellent than the CFRP in point and uniform loading conditions and it is more stable to unexpected loading because the deviation of failure index is smaller than that of CFRP.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.426-434
• /
• 2010

This study is experimentally performed to evaluate the strength reduction behavior and its statistical properties of plain woven glass/epoxy composites. The results indicate that the major impact damage of plain woven glass/epoxy composites is the fiber breakage and matrix crack, whereas the dominant impact damage of unidirectional carbon/epoxy laminates is the delamination, which depends on the stacking sequence. The residual strength prediction models, previously proposed on unidirectional laminates, are applied to evaluate the residual strength of plain woven glass/epoxy composites with impact damage. Among these models, the results by Caprino and Avva's model have a good agreement with the experimental results. To investigate the variability of residual strength of the impacted composite materials, a statistical model was proposed and its results were in conformance with the experimental results regardless of their thickness.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.9-16
• /
• 2011

This paper describes the crashworthiness evaluation and performance improvement of tilting train made of sandwich composites. The applied sandwich composite of carbody structure was composed of aluminum honeycomb core and glass/epoxy & carbon/epoxy laminate composite facesheet. Crashworthiness analysis of tilting train was carried out using explicit finite element analysis code LS-DYNA 3D. The 3D finite element model and 1D equivalent model were applied to save the finite element modeling and calculation time for crash analysis. The crash conditions of tilting train were conducted according to four crash scenarios of the Korean railway safety law. It found that the crashworthiness analysis results were satisfied with the performance requirements except the crash scenario-2. In order to meet the crashworthiness requirements for crash scenario-2, the stiffness reinforcement for the laminate composite cover and metal frames of cabmask structure was proposed. Consequentially, it has satisfied the requirement for crash scenario-2.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
• /
• v.36 no.8
• /
• pp.889-895
• /
• 2012

Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) composites have high specific stiffness and high specific strength. Therefore, they are increasingly being use, instead of conventional metallic materials in the aviation and automobile industries, where there is a strong demand for lightweight materials. In aircraft, the fuselage is exposed to severe conditions of high temperatures and high humidity. Therefore, it is necessary to estimate the strength of CFRP composites under real conditions from the viewpoint of aircraft safety. In this study, CFRP specimens were immersed in distilled water at $75^{\circ}C$ for a long time. Then, tensile tests were performed on these specimens, and the fracture characteristics of the fractured surfaces were analyzed using SEM. A fatigue test was performed on specimens immersed for 300 days with R=0.1, and it was confirmed that the fatigue life deteriorated in immersed specimens compared to specimens that were not immersed.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.20 no.5
• /
• pp.246-251
• /
• 2010

The composite photocatalysts of a Fe-modified carbon nanotube (CNT)-$TiO_2$ were synthesized by a two-step sol-gel method at high temperature. Its chemical composition and surface properties were investigated by BET surface area, scanning electron microscope (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. The results showed that the BET surface area was improved by modification of Fe, which was related to the adsorption capacity for each composite. Interesting thin layer aggregates of nanosized $TiO_2$ were observed from TEM images, probably stabilized by the presence of CNT, and the surface and structural characterization of the samples was carried out. The XRD results showed that the Fe/CNT-$TiO_2$ composites contained a mix of anatase and rutile forms of $TiO_2$ particles when the precursor is $TiOSO_4{\cdot}xH_2O$ (TOS). An excellent photocatalytic activity of Fe/CNT-$TiO_2$ was obtained for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation. It was considered that Fe cation could be doped into the matrix of $TiO_2$, which could hinder the recombination rate of the excited electrons/holes. The photocatalytic activity of the composites was also found to depend on the presence of CNT. The synergistic effects among the Fe, CNT and $TiO_2$ components were responsible for improving the visible light photocatalytic activity.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.68-75
• /
• 1999

This study has observed that the dynamic behavior of Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs) in low velocity impact varies with impact velocity. MMCs with 15 fiber volume percent were fabricated by using the squeeze casting method. The AC8A was used as the matrix, and the alumina and the carbon were used as reinforcements. The tensile and vibration tests conducted yielded the yielded the tensile stress and elastic modulus of MMCs The low pass filter and instrumented impact test machine was adopted to study dynamic behaviors of MMCs corresponding to impact velocity. Stable impact signals were obtained by using the low pass filter. Impact corresponding to impact velocity. Stable impact signals were obtained by using the low pass filter. Impact energy of unreinforced alloy and MM s increased as the impact velocity increased. The increase of crack propagation energy was especially prominent, but the dynamic toughness of each material did not change much. To show the relation between crack initiation energy and dynamic fracture toughness, a simple model was proposed by using the strain energy and stress distribution at notch. The model revealed that crack initiation energy is proportional to the square of dynamic fracture toughness and inversely proportional to elastic modulus.