• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제25권6호
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• pp.663-670
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• 2017

The problem of layup optimization of the composite laminates involves a very complex multidimensional solution space which is usually non-exhaustively explored using different heuristic computational methods such as genetic algorithms (GA). To ensure the convergence to the global optimum of the applied heuristic during the optimization process it is necessary to evaluate a lot of layup configurations. As a consequence the analysis of an individual layup configuration should be fast enough to maintain the convergence time range to an acceptable level. On the other hand the mechanical behavior analysis of composite laminates for any geometry and boundary condition is very convoluted and is performed by computational expensive numerical tools such as finite element analysis (FEA). In this respect some studies propose very fast FEA models used in layup optimization. However, the lower bound of the execution time of FEA models is determined by the global linear system solving which in some complex applications can be unacceptable. Moreover, in some situation it may be highly preferred to decrease the optimization time with the cost of a small reduction in the analysis accuracy. In this paper we explore some machine learning techniques in order to estimate the failure of a layup configuration. The estimated response can be qualitative (the configuration fails or not) or quantitative (the value of the failure factor). The procedure consists of generating a population of random observations (configurations) spread across solution space and evaluating using a FEA model. The machine learning method is then trained using this population and the trained model is then used to estimate failure in the optimization process. The results obtained are very promising as illustrated with an example where the misclassification rate of the qualitative response is smaller than 2%.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.405-422
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• 2018

In this research, experimental tensile test and manufacturing of carbon nanotube reinforced composite beam (CNTRC) is presented. Also, bending, buckling, and vibration analysis of CNTRC based on various beam theories such as Euler-Bernoulli, Timoshenko and Reddy beams are considered. At first, the experimental tensile tests are carried out for CNTRC and composite beams in order to obtain mechanical properties and then using Hamilton's principle the governing equations of motion are derived for Euler Bernoulli, Timoshenko and Reddy theories. The results have a good agreement with the obtained results by similar researches and it is shown that adding just two percent of carbon nanotubes increases dimensionless fundamental frequency and critical buckling load as well as decreases transverse deflection of composite beams. Also, the influences of different manufacturing processes such as hand layup and industrial methods using vacuum pump on composite properties are investigated. In these composite beams, glass fibers used in an epoxy matrix and for producing CNTRC, CNTs are applied as reinforcement particles. Applying two percent of CNTs leads to increase the mechanical properties and increases natural frequencies and critical buckling load and decreases deflection. The obtained natural frequencies and critical buckling load by theoretical method are higher than other methods, because there are some inevitable errors in industrial and hand layup method. Also, the minimum deflection occurs for theoretical methods, in bending analysis. In this study, Young's and shear modulli as well as density are obtained by experimental test and have not been used from the results of other researches. Then the theoretical analysis such as bending, buckling and vibration are considered by using the obtained mechanical properties of this research.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.32-43
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• 2014

Automatic fiber placement (AFP) has become a popular processing technique for composites in the aerospace industry, due to its ability to place prepregs or tapes precisely in the exact position when complex parts are being manufactured. This paper presents the design, analysis, and manufacture of an AFP mandrel for composite aircraft fuselage skin fabrication. According to the design requirements, an AFP mandrel was developed and a numerical study was performed through the finite element method. Linear static load analyses were performed considering the mandrel structure self-weight and a 2940 N load from the AFP machine head. Modal analysis was also performed to determine the mandrel's natural frequencies. These analyses confirmed that the proposed mandrel meets the design requirements. A prototype mandrel was then manufactured and used to fabricate a composite fuselage skin. Material load tests were conducted on the AFP fuselage skin curved laminates, equivalent flat AFP, and hand layup laminates. The flat AFP and hand layup laminates showed almost identical strength results in tension and compression. Compared to hand layup, the flat AFP laminate modulus was 5.2% higher in tension and 12.6% lower in compression. The AFP curved laminates had an ultimate compressive strength of 1.6% to 8.7% higher than flat laminates. The FEM simulation predicted strengths were 4% higher in tension and 11% higher in compression than the flat laminate test results.

• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
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• 제6권3호
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• pp.723-736
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• 2014

Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic (GFRP) structures are primarily manufactured using hand lay-up or vacuum infusion techniques, which are cost-effective for the construction of marine vessels. This paper aims to investigate the mechanical properties and failure mechanisms of the hybrid GFRP composites, formed by applying the hand lay-up processed exterior and the vacuum infusion processed interior layups, providing benefits for structural performance and ease of manufacturing. The hybrid GFRP composites contain one, two, and three vacuum infusion processed layer sets with consistent sets of hand lay-up processed layers. Mechanical properties assessed in this study include tensile, compressive and in-plane shear properties. Hybrid composites with three sets of vacuum infusion layers showed the highest tensile mechanical properties while those with two sets had the highest mechanical properties in compression. The batch homogeneity, for the GFRP fabrication processes, is evaluated using the experimentally obtained mechanical properties.

• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.45-56
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• 2010

Polymer composite materials offer high strength and stiffness to weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and total life cost reductions that appeal to the marine industry. The advantages of composite construction have led to their incorporation in U.S. yacht hull structures over 46 meters (150 feet) in length. In order to construct even larger hull structures, higher quality composites with lower cost production techniques need to be developed. In this study, the effect of composite hull fabrication processes on mechanical properties of glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) composites is presented. Fabrication techniques investigated during this study are hand lay-up (HL), vacuum infusion (VI), and hybrid (HL+VI) processes. Mechanical property testing includes: tensile, compressive, and ignition loss sample analysis. Results demonstrate that the vacuum pressure implemented dining composite fabrication has an effect on mechanical properties. The VI processed GFRP yields improved mechanical properties in tension/compression strengths and tensile modulus. The hybrid GFRP composites, however, failed in a sequential manor, due to dissimilar failure modes in the HL and VI processed sides. Fractography analysis was conducted to validate the mechanical property testing results.

• 폴리머
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• 제39권1호
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• pp.46-55
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• 2015

There is a limit for deforestation in order to keep the environmental cycle undisturbed. The heart of the paper is to replace the wood to a maximum extent to obtain a sustainable environment. This research aims at new natural composites in which treated hemp fiber used as reinforcement, synthetic cellulose used as particulate to improve the adhesion between matrix - fiber interface and Epoxy LY556 acted as matrix fabricated by hand layup technique. The density, water absorption, tensile properties, impact strength, hardness, flexural properties and compressive properties have been evaluated under ASTM standards and compare the results with existing materials such as wood, aluminium, etc., The composite hemp fiber reinforced polymer (HFRP) could be exploited as an effective replacement for wood and it would be suitable for automotive applications by comparing results.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제49권5호
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• pp.555-568
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• 2014

In this article, stability of composite conical shells subjected to dynamic external pressure is investigated by numerical and experimental methods. In experimental tests, cross-ply glass woven fabrics were selected for manufacturing of specimens. Hand-layup method was employed for fabricating the glass-epoxy composite shells. A test-setup that includes pressure vessel and data acquisition system was designed. Also, numerical analyses are performed. In these analyses, effect of actual geometrical imperfections of experimental specimens on the numerical results is investigated. For introducing the imperfections to the numerical models, linear eigen-value buckling analyses were employed. The buckling modes are multiplied by very small numbers that are derived from measurement of actual specimens. Finally, results are compared together while a good agreement between results of imperfect numerical analyses and experimental tests is observed.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제17권6호
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• pp.825-834
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• 2014

This manuscript presents an experimental investigation on the effect of Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) addition on the tensile, flexural and impact properties of woven Kevlar fabric reinforced epoxy composites. MWCNTs were dispersed in the epoxy resin by sonication technique and the samples were fabricated by hand layup laminating procedure. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to characterize the microstructure of produced samples. The effects of adding small amounts (${\leq}1%$) of MWCNT on the tensile, flexural and impact (Izod) behaviors of laminated composites were analyzed. Results revealed that MWCNTs enhanced the Young's modulus up to 20%, bending modulus up to 40%, and impact strength up to 45% in comparison with woven Kevlar fabric/epoxy composites. It was found that the maximum improvements in mechanical properties were happened for 0.5 wt.% MWCNT.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제45권3호
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• pp.467-482
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• 2022

One of the major failure modes in composite sandwich structures is the separation between skins and core. In this study, the effect of employing foam filled composite corrugated core on the skin/core debonding (resistance to separation between skin and core) is investigated both experimentally and numerically. To this aim, triangular corrugated core specimens are manufactured and compared with reference specimens only made of PVC foam core in terms of skin/core debonding under bending loading. The corrugated composite laminates are fabricated using the hand layup method. Also, the Vacuumed Infusion Process (VIP) is employed to join the skins to the core with greater quality. Utilizing an End Notched Shear (ENS) fixture, three point bending tests are performed on the manufactured sandwich composite panels. The results reveal that the resistance to separation capacity and flexural stiffness of sandwich composite has been increased about 170% and 76%, respectively by using a triangular corrugated core. The Cohesive Zone Model (CZM) with appropriate cohesive law in ABAQUS finite element software is used to model the progressive face/core interfaces debonding the difference between experimental and numerical results in predicting the maximum born load before the skin/core separation is about 6 % in simple core specimens and 3% in triangular corrugated core specimens.

• Composites Research
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• 제31권6호
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• pp.398-403
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• 2018

최근 플라스틱 폐기물로 인한 환경오염, 미세플라스틱의 생태계 교란 및 인체축적이 큰 문제로 떠오르고 있다. 이를 대체하기 위하여 친환경 수지 및 천연섬유 기반의 복합재료가 개발되어 왔으나 합성섬유 기반의 복합재료에 비하여 기계적 물성이 크게 떨어진다는 단점이 있다. 본 연구에서는 천연섬유인 황마섬유(jute fiber)의 기계적 물성을 향상시키기 위하여 해초로부터 친환경 나노섬유를 추출 후 첨가제로 사용하였다. 핸드 레이업 공정을 이용하여 복합재료를 제조하였으며, 인장, 굽힘, 낙추충격시험을 통하여 나노섬유가 천연섬유 복합재료의 기계적 물성 향상에 효과적임을 확인할 수 있었다.