• Composites Research
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.44-52
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• 2002

To study numerically the mechanical behaviors of advanced composite materials considering the microscopic phenomena as well as the macroscopic properties and behaviors, a multi-scale modeling and analysis by the mathematical homogenization method with the help of the finite element method(FEM) are reviewed. The hierarchical modeling strategy and the formulation are briefly described first to give some idea of the multi-scale framework. The latter half of this article focuses on the verification of the multi-scale analysis by the homogenization method in its applications to real advanced materials. The first example is the verification of the predicted macroscopic(homogenized) properties based on the microstructure of porous ceramics. In spite of the complexity of the random microstructure, the error between the predicted and the measured values was only 1%. Next, two applications to the process simulation of fiber reinforced polymer matrix composites are presented. The permeability characteristics are evaluated for sheared weave fabrics for resin transfer molding(RTM) simulation, and the thermoforming of FRTP sheet is analyzed considering the large deformation of the knit structure during the deep-draw forming was verified by comparison with the experimental results.

• The Korean Journal of Rheology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.139-149
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• 1995

실제 복합재료 제조공정에 널리 이용되는 등방성 탄소섬유직조와 에폭시수지에 대 해서 수지의 유동을 일방향으로 근사하여 비정상상태 투과계수와 모세관압을 측정하는 실험 을 수행하였고 적층된 섬유직조의 기공율, 금형 주입압력 그리고 섬유직조의 적층수에 따른 수지유동특성을 분석하였다. 또한 금형 충전과정에 대한 유동가시화 실험을 수행하여 유동 선단과 충전시간을 측정하였다. 전체 조업압력에 미치는 모세관압의 영향을 규명하기 위해 일정 유입압력에 따른 금형충전과정에 대하여 유한요소/관할부피 방법을 이용한 수치모사를 수행하였다. 함침공정의 수지유동에서 비정상상태 투과계수는 섬유직조의 기공율에 따라 급 격히 증가하였고 에폭시수의 표면장력에 기인한 모세관압은 기공율 감소에 따라 급격히 증 가하였다. 동일한 기공율에서 섬유직조의 적층수가 증가함에 따라 투과계수와 모세관압은 모두 증가하는 경향을 보였다. 또한실험에서 측정한 모세관압을 고려하여 유동선단과 금형 충전시간을 수치모사방법으로 예측ㄷ한 결과는 유동가시화 실험에의한 결과와 잘 일치함을 보였다. 이결과로부터 낮은 압력에서 조업하는 RTM공정에서 모세관압효과는 유동선단과 금형 충전시간을 예측하는데 기여함을 알수 있다.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1531-1548
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• 2015

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between Barcol hardness (H) and flexural modulus (E) degradation of composite sheets subjected to flexural fatigue. The resin transfer molding (RTM) method was used to produce 3-mm-thick composite sheets with fiber volume fraction of 44%. The composite sheets were subjected to flexural fatigue tests and Barcol scale hardness measurements. After these tests, the stiffness and hardness degradations were investigated in the composite sheets that failed after around one million cycles (stage III). Flexural modulus degradation values were in the range of 0.41-0.42 with the corresponding measured hardness degradation values in the range of 0.25-0.32 for the all fatigued composite sheets. Thus, a 25% reduction in the initial hardness and a 41% reduction in the initial flexural modulus can be taken as the failure criteria. The results showed that a reasonably well-defined relationship between Barcol hardness and flexural modulus degradation in the distance range.

• Composites Research
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.165-169
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• 2013

This work presents the tensile properties and water uptake behavior of plasma treated abaca fibers reinforced epoxy composites. The composites were prepared by vacuum assisted resin transfer molding. The effects of treatment on tensile properties and sorption characteristics of abaca fiber composites in distilled water and salt solution at room temperature were investigated. The tensile strength of the composites increased with plasma treatment. With plasma treatment, an improvement of 92.9% was obtained in 2.5 min exposure time in plasma. This is attributed to high fiber-matrix compatibility. Less improvement on tensile properties of hybrid treatment of sodium hydroxide and plasma was obtained. However, both treatments reduced overall water uptake in distilled water and salt solution. Hydrophilicity of the fibers decreased upon plasma and sodium hydroxide treatment, which decreases water uptake.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.93-99
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• 2012

The mechanical properties of nano composites were evaluated for structural performance in order to enhance their applicability to the car and machine industrial fields. Carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) and GFRP were manufactured by vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process with good mechanical properties. Tensile test was conducted to obtain the process factor of each composite. Also, carbon nano fiber (CNF) was dispersed in the composites and the relationship between the mechanical property and the CNF fraction was compared. The tensile strength and stiffness of 0/90 laminated CFRP were the best. CFRP/CNF (0.5 wt.%) was confirmed to be an excellent material for its elasticity and tensile strength.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.49 no.10
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• pp.760-765
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• 2011

This paper presents a study of the tensile behavior of carbon and glass fiber reinforced epoxy hybrid laminates manufactured by vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM). The objective of this study was to develop and characterize carbon fiber reinforced plastic hybrid composite material that is low cost and light-weight and that possesses adequate strength and stiffness. The effect of position and content of the glass fabric layer on the tensile properties of the hybrid laminates was examined. The strength and stiffness of the hybrid laminates showed a steady decrease with an increase of the glass fabric content this decrease was almost linear. Fracture strain of these laminates showed a slight increasing trend when glass fabric content was increased up to 3 layers, but at a glass fabric content > 3 layers the strain was almost constant. When glass fabric layers were at both outer surfaces, the hybrid laminate exhibited a slightly higher tensile strength and elastic modulus due to the small amount of glass yarn pull-out.

• Composites Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.61-67
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• 2020

Preforming is crucial in resin transfer molding process using woven fabric. When shear deformation exceeds the locking angle, wrinkles are generated in the preform, which causes defects in the RTM process. Therefore, in this study, the allowable shear deformation limit of carbon fiber woven fabrics is quantified and the molding characteristics are verified using the actual fabric forming. As a result, the characteristics of creases according to the layer setups have been examined and the results have been discussed. Numerical analyses have been also performed using measured shear properties. These results have been compared with the experimental results.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.146-149
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• 2005

The using of composite material is an aviation field but it changes into a general industry. Especially composites are expanding the use on transportation vehicles like automobiles, ships, and aircrafts. The main factor of this expansion is high specific strength. It can supply a high quality and efficiency of energy. But manufacturing of composite products requires many raw materials and tooling cost for special process, so we needs a reduction of these costs to achieve best efficiency. In the present study, we contrast the change of mechanical and physical properties between VaRTM(Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding) and hand lay-up process. VaRTM process can offer a high quality the same as autoclave products, and low cost like hand lay-up process. In the results of mechanical tests, VaRTM specimen is stronger than hand lay-up specimen and hand lay-up specimen became delamination. In the results of physical tests, the resin content of VaRTM specimen is lower than hand lay-up specimen. On micrograph, the strength of specimen by VaRTM between fiber and resin is stronger than that of one by hand lay-up. And the specimen by hand lay-up contains more defects than one by VaRTM. So, VaRTM process can practically apply for automobile engine hood. This paper shows that VaRTM process is one of the most suitable processes for composite parts of automobile.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Marine Engineers Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.377-381
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• 2005

The using of composite material is an aviation field but it changes into a general industry. Especially composites are expanding the use on transportation vehicles like automobiles, ships, and aircraft. The main factor of this expansion is high specific strength. It can supply a high quality and efficiency of energy. But manufacturing of composite products requires many raw materials and tooling cost for special process, so we needs a reduction of these costs to achieve best efficiency. In the present study, we contrast the change of mechanical and physical properties between VaRTM(Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding) and hand lay-up process. VaRTM process can offer a high quality the same as autoclave products, and low cost like hand lay-up process. In the results of mechanical tests, VaRTM specimen is stronger than hand lay-up specimen and hand lay-up specimen became delamination. In the results of physical tests, the resin content of VaRTM specimen is lower than hand lay-up specimen. On micrograph, the strength of specimen by VaRTM between fiber and resin is stronger than that of one by hand lay-up. And the specimen by hand lay-up contains more defects than one by VaRTM. So, VaRTM process can practically apply for automobile engine hood. This paper shows that VaRTM process is one of the most suitable processes for composite parts of automobile.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2003

This paper summarizes the results of the fatigue test of four composite bridge decks in extreme temperatures (-30$^{\circ}C$ and 50$^{\circ}C$ ). The work was performed as part of a research program to evaluate and install multiple FRP bridge deck systems in Dayton, Ohio. A two-span continuous concrete deck was also built on three steel girders for the benchmark tests. Simulated wheel loads were applied simultaneously at two points by two servo-controlled hydraulic actuators specially designed and fabricated to perform under extreme temperatures. Each deck was initially subjected to one million wheel load cycles at low temperature and another one million cycles at high temperature. The results presented in this paper correspond to the fatigue response of each deck for four million load cycles at low temperature and another four million cycles at high temperature. Thus, the deck was subjected to a total of ten million cycles. Quasi-static load-deflection and load-strain responses were determined at predetermined fatigue cycle levels. Except for the progressive reduction in stiffness, no significant distress was observed in any of the composite deck prototypes during ten million load cycles. The effects of extreme temperatures and accumulated load cycles on the load-deflection and load-strain response of FRP composite and FRP-concrete hybrid bridge decks are discussed based on the experimental results.