• Composites Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.161-166
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• 2016

Carbon nanotube buckypaper (CNTs-BP)/thermoplastic polyurethane (PU) elastomer composites were successfully fabricated. The CNTs-BP/PU nanocomposites exhibited simultaneous improvements in both tensile modulus and strength by 1360 and 430%, respectively, as compared to pure PU. Possible reinforcing mechanisms were evidenced by SEM analyses and tensile tests. The CNTs-BP/PU nanocomposites can be potentially used as an inter-reinforcing agent in ultra-lightweight, high-strength aircraft, carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics, etc.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.47-70
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• 2012

To enhance cable stiffness, this paper proposed a combined application of carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) and steel materials, resulting in a novel type of hybrid stay cable system especially for the cable-stayed bridges with main span lengths of 1400~2800 m. In this combination, CFRP materials can conserve all their advantages such as light weight and high strength; while steel materials help increase the equivalent stiffness to compensate for the low elastic modulus of CFRP materials. An increase of the equivalent stiffness of the hybrid stay cable system could be further obtained with a reasonable increase of its safety factor. Following this concept, a series of parametric studies for the hybrid stay cable system with the consideration of stiffness and cost were carried out. Three design strategies/criteria, namely, best equivalent stiffness with a given safety factor, highest ratio of equivalent stiffness to material cost with a given safety factor, and best equivalent stiffness under a given cost were proposed from the stiffness and cost viewpoints. Finally, a comprehensive design procedure following the proposed design strategies was suggested. It was shown that the proposed hybrid stay cable system could be a good alternative to the pure CFRP or traditional steel stay cables in the future applications of super long span bridges.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.225-239
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• 2021

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) has extensive use in strengthening reinforced concrete structures due to its high strength and elastic modulus, low weight, fast and easy application, and excellent durability performance. Many studies have been carried out to determine the performance of the CFRP confined concrete cylinder. Although studies about the prediction of confined compressive strength using ANN are in the literature, the insufficiency of the studies to predict the strain of confined concrete cylinder using ANN, which is the most appropriate analysis method for nonlinear and complex problems, draws attention. Therefore, to predict both strengths and also strain values, two different ANNs were created using an extensive experimental database. The strength and strain networks were evaluated with the statistical parameters of correlation coefficients (R2), root mean square error (RMSE), and mean absolute error (MAE). The estimated values were found to be close to the experimental results. Mathematical equations to predict the strength and strain values were derived using networks prepared for convenience in engineering applications. The sensitivity analysis of mathematical models was performed by considering the inputs with the highest importance factors. Considering the limit values obtained from the sensitivity analysis of the parameters, the performances of the proposed models were evaluated by using the test data determined from the experimental database. Model performances were evaluated comparatively with other analytical models most commonly used in the literature, and it was found that the closest results to experimental data were obtained from the proposed strength and strain models.

• Composites Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.162-169
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• 2024

In this study, PAN(polyacrylonitrile)-based precursor fibers were produced through a wet-spinning process, and their morphologies and graphitization behavior were investigated in the presence of two graphitization catalysts (Ca, Ni). The graphitization catalysts were introduced into the formed pores during hot-water stretching of wet-spun PAN-based precursor fibers. The catalytic effects of graphitization catalysts were examined through crystal structure and Raman analysis. At a relatively low temperature of 1500℃, the graphitization was not significantly affected, whereas at a high temperature of 2400℃, the obtained I_D/I_G value of graphite fiber (GF-Ni100) was decreased by about twice (~0.28) compared to the untreated fibers (GF-AS~0.54). By comparing the I_D/I_G values (GF-Ca100~0.42: GF-Ni100~0.28) of Ca and Ni graphitization catalyst, it was found that the degree of graphitization of Ni graphitization catalyst showed higher influence than that of Ca graphitization catalyst. Moreover, 2D band was also observed, indicating that the graphite plane structures composed of multiple layers were developed. XRD results confirmed that the crystal inter-planar distance (d₀₀₂) of the graphite crystal was slightly decreased after the treatment with the graphitization catalyst, But, the crystal size of Ca-treated graphite fiber (GF-Ca100) was increased by up to ~5 nm.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aviation and Aeronautics
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.68-73
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• 2014

Research is being carried out at Korea Aerospace Research Institute with aim of design a HALE UAV(High Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Air Vehicle). HALE UAVs are ideally suited to provide surveillance, remote sensing and communication relay capabilities for both military and civilian applications. HALE UAVs typically cruise at an altitude between 15 km and 20 km, travelling at low speed and circling specific area of interest. Airframe structural point of view, weight reduction of the airframe structure is the most important method to improve the flight efficiency. High modulus CFRP(Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer) has been used in designing the structure in order to minimize the airframe weight. With respect to structural design and analysis, the key question is to decide an adequate airworthiness certification base to define suitable load cases for sizing of various structural components. In this study, FAR(Federal Aviation Regulation) 23 have constituted the guidance and benchmark throughout all structural studies. And the MSC/FlightLoads was introduced to analyze the flight loads for the HALE UAV. The MSC/FlightLoads can compute the flexible air load and analyzed loads are distributed on structural model directly. A preliminary structural concept was defined in accordance with the estimated inertial and aerodynamic loads. A FEM analysis was carried out using the MSC/Nastran code to predict the static and dynamic behaviour of UAV structure.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.85-90
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• 2021

Generally, the tensile strength of carbon fiber reinforced composite (CFRP) should be determined to produce this material. The tensile strength was performed based on ASTM D3039, and this test could cause the error by specimens and human. In this research, the CFRP tensile test was performed with different thickness of specimens and tap, adhesive for attaching tap, and pressure of jig to hold the specimens, while the test was performed based on ASTM D3039. The tensile stress and modulus exhibited differently with different specimen thicknesses, and the 1~1.5 mm thickness of the specimen was optimized. In the case of 0.28 MPa jig pressure, the slip or fracture at the clamping area of the specimen has not occurred, and specimens were fractured to the center section of the specimen. The adhesive to attach jig on specimen should be used to exhibit high adhesive stress. Experimental parameters could cause errors. It is expected to achieve an accurate tensile property evaluation of composite materials via improvements in adhesives, tabs, and jigs.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.43 no.8
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• pp.699-705
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• 2015

Aircraft needs high lift-to-drag ratio and weight reduction of the structure for long endurance flight with a small power. Generally high aspect ratio wing is applied to HALE(High Altitude Long Endurance) aircraft. Also high modulus, and high strength CFRP(Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic) has been used in primary structures. and thin mylar(membrane material) film has been applied to skin of wing. As a result, wing is more flexible than the other structures. and the stiffness of thin mylar film has an affect on dynamic stability. In this study, the membrane characteristic of mylar film has been simulated using nonlinear gap elements. And equivalent modeling method using shell elements is presented using the nonlinear simulation result. The linear equivalent model has verified using the results of nonlinear membrane method. Proposed linear equivalent shell model has applied to mode analysis for estimate the effect of mylar mechanical properties on natural frequency.