• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
• /
• v.50 no.10
• /
• pp.729-734
• /
• 2012

This study investigated the effect of water absorption on the tensile properties of carbon-glass/epoxy hybrid composites at room temperature and $-30^{\circ}C$. To investigate the effect of the position of glass fabric in the hybrid composite on the tensile properties, the stacking pattern of the fiber fabrics for reinforcing was created in three different ways: (a) glass fabrics sandwiched between carbon fabrics, (b) carbon fabrics sandwiched between glass fabrics and (c) alternative layers of carbon and glass fabrics. They were manufactured by a vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process. The results showed that there was surprisingly little difference in tensile strength at the two different temperatures with dry and wet conditions. However, the water absorption into the hybrid system affected the tensile properties of the hybrid composites at RT and $-30^{\circ}C$. When the glass fabrics were at the outermost layers, the hybrid composite had the lowest tensile properties. This is attributed to the fact that the composite had a relatively high water absorption rate.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.88-93
• /
• 2002

The objective of this study is to obtain fundamental understandings involving the manufacturing process of nano-composite via resin transfer molding and explore the role of nano sized $Fe_2O_3$ particles in the epoxy/$Fe_2O_3$ nano-composites. To achieve this goal, following investigations have been conducted: Define the optimum dispersion technique of nano-particles, identify the effect of the nano-particles to the resin viscosity, characterize the key mechanical properties versus particle loading amounts, and explore the usefulness and quality improvement in nano-composites. These efforts will be useful for designers to quantify application payoffs and define a technology development roadmap for manufacturing nano-composites, and will help an engineering design and manufacturing nano-composites more efficiently by providing the design methodology.

• Design & Manufacturing
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2020

In this study, the variation of the shrinkage in the thickness direction of the molded parts according to the gate size of the polymer core fabricated through the 3D printer using the SLS method was studied. The polymer cores are laser sintered and the powder material is nylon base PA2200. The polymer cores have lower heat transfer rate and rigidity than the metal core due to the characteristics of the material. Therefore, the injection molding test conditions are set to minimize the deformation of the core during the injection process. The resin used in the injection molding test is a PP material. The packing condition was set to 80, 90 and 100% of the maximum injection pressure for each gate size. The runner diameter used was ∅3mm, and the gates were fabricated in semicircle shapes with cross sections 1, 2, and 3 ㎟, respectively. Thickness measurement was performed for 10 points at 2.5 mm intervals from the point 2.5 mm away from the gate, and the shrinkage to thickness was measured for each point. The shrinkage rate according to the gate size tends to decrease as the cross-sectional area decreases as the maximum injection pressure increases. The average thickness shrinkage rate was close to 0% when the packing pressure was 90% for the gate area of 1mm2. When the holding pressure was set to 100%, the shrinkage was found to decrease by 3% from the standard dimension due to the over-packing phenomenon. Therefore, the smaller the gate, the more closely the molded dimensions can be molded due to the high pressure generation. It was confirmed that precise packing process control is necessary because over-packing phenomenon may occur.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.19 no.10
• /
• pp.418-423
• /
• 2018

Recently, research and development of high-value leisure vessels has been carried out in Korea to revitalize the marine leisure industry and tap into the global maritime leisure market. FRP composite materials, which have excellent physical properties and are available for the manufacture of light hulls, are used widely. One of the most important design technologies is to secure structural safety of leisure vessels made from FRP composite materials. In this study, the structural strength was assessed for the design of an 8-meter high-speed planing leisure boat made from FRP composite materials. The design loads to verify the structural safety were calculated according to the rules for the classification of high speed light craft (KR, 2015), and structural analysis was conducted using a finite element model composed of an isotropic shell element, which has equivalent bending rigidity with the FRP sandwich panel. The analysis results were compared with the results of the strength test for fabricated specimens, and all internal structural components are sufficiently satisfied with the structural strength.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.31 no.5
• /
• pp.276-281
• /
• 2018

In this paper, elastic behavior of woven fabric composites with various fiber yarn structure were predicted through a theoretical calculation model. A representative volume elements (RVE) that can represent the mechanical properties of the woven composites were selected and crimp angle of the weave yarn was defined by several sinusoidal functions. The effective material properties of the woven composite such as young's modulus, shear modulus and poisson's ratio was predicted by classical laminate theory (CLT). The fiber volume fractions were calculated according to the shape and pattern (plain, twill weave) of the fiber yarn, and the elastic behavior of each woven composite was obtained through a theoretical calculation model. Also, to verify the theoretical predictions, woven composite specimens of plain and twill weave were fabricated by vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process and then mechanical test was conducted. As a results, a good correlation between theoretical and experimental results for the elastic behavior of woven composites could be achieved.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.301-308
• /
• 2015

To reduce the weight of a railroad vehicle, a bogie frame skin is considered for manufacture using an RTM process and composite material. Compared to other processes, RTM has merits in that it demands only simple manufacturing facilities and can produce a large and complex structure in a short cycle time. On the other hand, it is important to determine the proper number and locations of gates and vents to prevent void formation inside a structure. In this study, we numerically predicted the flow pattern in a bogie frame skin during the RTM process by distinguishing the permeability of a fiber mat as isotropic or anisotropic. Using the results, we analyzed the RTM process conditions of the bogie frame to predict skin void formation, mold filling time, and optimum location of vents depending on the permeability conditions.

• Advances in nano research
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.97-111
• /
• 2022

In the present article, silica nanoparticles (SNPs) were exploited to improve the tribological and mechanical properties of vinyl ester/glass fiber composites. To the best of our knowledge, there hasn't been any prior study on the wear properties of glass fiber reinforced vinyl ester SiO₂ nanocomposites. The wear resistance is a critical concern in many industries which needs to be managed effectively to reduce high costs. To examine the influence of SNPs on the mechanical properties, seven different weight percentages of vinyl ester/nano-silica composites were initially fabricated. Afterward, based on the tensile testing results of the silica nanocomposites, four wt% of SNPs were selected to fabricate a ternary composite composed of vinyl ester/glass fiber/nano-silica using vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding. At the next stage, the tensile, three-point flexural, Charpy impact, and pin-on-disk wear tests were performed on the ternary composites. The fractured surfaces were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images after conducting previous tests. The most important and interesting result of this study was the development of a nanocomposite that exhibited a 52.2% decrease in the mean coefficient of friction (COF) by augmenting the SNPs, which is beneficial for the fabrication/repair of composite/steel energy pipelines as well as hydraulic and pneumatic pipe systems conveying abrasive materials. Moreover, the weight loss due to wearing the ternary composite containing one wt% of SNPs was significantly reduced by 70%. Such enhanced property of the fabricated nanocomposite may also be an important design factor for marine structures, bridges, and transportation of wind turbine blades.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.106-114
• /
• 2022

Carbon fiber-reinforced plastic, well known high specific strength and high specific stiffness, have been widely used in the aircraft industry. Mostly the CFRP structure is fabricated by lamination of carbon fiber or carbon prepreg, which has major disadvantage called delamination. Delamination is usually produced due to absence of the through-thickness direction fiber. In this study, three-dimensional carbon preform woven in three directions is used for fabrication of aircraft wing unit structure, a part of repeated structure in aircraft wing. The unit structure include skin, stringer and rib were prepared by resin transfer molding method. After, the 3D structure was compared with laminate structure through compression test. The results show that 3D structure is not only effective to prevent delamination but improved the mechanical strength. Therefore, the 3d preform structure is expected to be used in various fields requiring delamination prevention, especially in the aircraft industry.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.30-36
• /
• 2009

In this paper, we propose the design method for the composite torque link of a landing gear for a helicopter. The composite torque link has to be light weighted and very stiff to keep the shock absorber in the landing gear of helicopter. The configuration and structural shape has to be designed in consideration of the RTM (Resin Transfer Molding) manufacturing process which is adopted to minimize the manufacturing cost. The mechanical properties are obtained through the coupon tests with the specimens made by the same manufacturing process for the composite structure. The optimal design process was performed through iterative modifications of the models which were verified by stress analysis using FEM. The composite torque link has lug-shaped parts and is very thick, so 3D Layered solid elements of ABAQUS were used to get the stress field including the stress components in thickness direction and non-linear static analysis using contact B.C. of rigid-deform condition was used to get the optimal design.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.1-15
• /
• 2023

Demand for energy consumption reduction is increasing according to the development expectations of future mobility. Lightweight structural materials are known as a method to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency. In particular, fiber reinforced polymer composite (FRP) is attracting attention as a material that can replace existing metal alloys due to its excellent mechanical properties and light weight. In this paper, industrial applications and research trends of carbon fiber reinforced composites (CFRP, carbon FRP) and self-reinforced composites (SRC) were reviewed based on the reinforcement, polymer matrix, and manufacturing process. In order to overcome the expensive process cost and long manufacturing time of the epoxy resin-based autoclave method, which is mainly used in the aircraft field, mass production of CFRP-applied electric vehicles has been reported using a high-pressure resin transfer molding process including fast-curing epoxy. In addition, thermoplastic resin-based CFRP and interface enhancement methods to solve the recycling issue of carbon fiber composites were reviewed in terms of materials and processes. To form a perfect matrix-reinforcement interface, which is known as the major factor inducing the excellent mechanical properties of FRP, studies on SRC impregnated with the same matrix in polymer fibers have been reported. The physical and mechanical properties of SRC based on various thermoplastic polymers were reviewed in terms of polymer orientation and composite structure. In addition, a copolymer matrix strategy for extending the processing window of highly drawn polypropylene fiber-based SRC was discussed. The application of CFRP and SRC as lightweight structural materials can provide potential options for improving the energy efficiency of future mobility.