• Advanced Composite Materials
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.223-244
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• 2007

This study experimentally and numerically investigated the tensile damage progress in stitched laminates. In particular, it focused on the effects of stitching on the damage progress. First, we experimentally confirmed that ply cracks and delamination appeared under load regardless of stitching. We then performed damage-extension simulation for stitched laminates using a layer-wise finite element model with stitch threads as beam elements, in which the damage (ply cracks and delamination) was represented by cohesive elements. A detailed comparison between observation and the simulated results confirmed that stitching had little effect on the onset and accumulation of ply cracks. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the stitch threads significantly suppressed the extension of the delamination.

• Advanced Composite Materials
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.121-134
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• 2009

The present study investigated, both experimentally and numerically, the improvement of low-velocity impact damage resistance of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) laminates due to through-the-thickness stitching. First, we conducted drop-weight impact tests for stitched and unstitched laminates. The results of damage inspection confirmed that stitching did improve the impact damage resistance, and revealed that the improvement effect became greater as the impact energy increased. Moreover, the stitching affected the through-the-thickness damage distribution. Next, we performed FEM analysis and calculated the energy release rate of the delamination crack using the virtual crack closure technique (VCCT). The numerical results revealed that the stitching affected the through-the-thickness damage distribution because the stitch threads had a marked effect on decreasing both the modes I and II energy release rate around the bottom of the laminate. Comparison of the results for models that contained delaminations of various sizes revealed that the energy release rate became lower as delamination size increased; therefore the stitching improved the impact resistance more effectively when the impact energy was higher.

• Composites Research
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.74-82
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• 1999

The static and fatigue characteristics of polyurethane foam cored sandwich structures are investigated. Three types of the specimens with the glass fabric faces and the polyurethane foam core are used; non-stitched. stitched, and stiffened sandwich specimen. Especially additional structural reinforcements with the twisted polyester and glass fiber for thickness direction are made to stitched sandwich structure panel to minimize the delamination of structure which is stitched the upper and lower faces through the core and the resin is impregnated Into stitched fiber with the characteristics of low viscosity of resin at resin flow temperature and cured together with during the curing process. Bending strength of stitched specimen which is 50 mm $50{\times}50{\;}mm$ pitched is improved by 50 % as com-pared with non-stitched specimen and stiffened specimen is improved 10 times more than non-stitched structure. After fatigue testing of $10^6$cycles by 20% of ultimate load under monotonic load, the bending fatigue strength of non-stitched specimen is decreased by 27% of monotonic bending strength, 39% for stitched structure and 20% for stiffened specimen. To verify the aging effect of polyurethane form core, Ultrasonic C-scanning equipment is used to detect the damage of skin laminate alone after fatigue test. From results of UT C-scan images, there is no defect that can be damaged occurred during fatigue test. It is concluded that the decrease of bending strength for foam cored sandwich specimen is caused by the decrease of stiffness due to the aging of polyurethane foam core during fatigue cycles.

• Composites Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.102-107
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• 2019

Several studies related to reinforce composites structures in the through thickness direction have been developed along the years. As follows, in this study a new reinforced process is proposed based on previous experimental results using a novel stitching process in T-joints and one-stitched specimens. It was established the need to perform more analysis under standard test methods to obtain a better understanding. FEM analysis were compared after performed mode I interlaminar fracture toughness test, using different stitching patterns to analyze the through thickness strength with reference laminates without stitching. The stitching patterns were defined in $2{\times}2$ and $3{\times}3$, where the upper and lower head of the non-continuous stitching process (I-Fiber) has proven to influence in a higher through thickness strength of the laminate. In order to design the numerical model, cohesive parameters were required to define the surface to surface bonding elements using the cohesive zone method (CZM) and simulate the crack opening behavior from the double cantilever beam (DCB) test.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.317-320
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• 2006

In order to determine a minimum thickness of the pultruded GFRP panel as a structural member, some experimental studies were performed. GFRP tubes with 2mm, 4mm, 6mm thickness were manufactured by pultrusion process. First, coupon tests for finding mechanical properties were carried out. Comparisons between test results and analysis results based on classical laminate theory showed large differences in case of 2mm, 4mm specimens. The reason is that it is difficult to apply appropriate pultruding force and keep layered stitched fabric flat for the pultrusion process of complex shaped FRP member with small thickness. On the consequence, we decide 6mm as a minimum thickness of FRP member. Second, 4-point bending tests were performed and the results with compared with numerical analysis. The behavior of FRP tube can be exactly predicted by numerical analysis if buckling analysis is included.