• Advanced Composite Materials
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.373-407
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• 2008

This paper will examine the possibilities of the virtual tests of composite structures by simulating mechanical behaviors by using supercomputing technologies, which have now become easily available and powerful but relatively inexpensive. We will describe mainly the applications of large-scale finite element analysis using the direct numerical simulation (DNS), which describes composite material properties considering individual constituent properties. DNS approach is based on the full microscopic concepts, which can provide detailed information about the local interaction between the constituents and micro-failure mechanisms by separate modeling of each constituent. Various composite materials such as metal matrix composites (MMCs), active fiber composites (AFCs), boron/epoxy cross-ply laminates and 3-D orthogonal woven composites are selected as verification examples of DNS. The effective elastic moduli and impact structural characteristics of the composites are determined using the DNS models. These DNS models can also give the global and local information about deformations and influences of high local in-plane and interlaminar stresses induced by transverse impact loading at a microscopic level inside the materials. Furthermore, the multi-scale models based on DNS concepts considering microscopic and macroscopic structures simultaneously are also developed and a numerical low-velocity impact simulation is performed using these multi-scale DNS models. Through these various applications of DNS models, it can be shown that the DNS approach can provide insights of various structural behaviors of composite structures.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2009

A structural modelling for study on dynamic characteristics of tapered composite aircraft wings in the form of thin-walled beam is presented. The proposed structural model includes effects of transverse shear flexibility exhibited by the advanced composite materials and warping restraint characterizing elastic anisotropy and induced structural couplings. The complex effects of these factors could have a role in more efficient analysis on those structural models.

• Advanced Composite Materials
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.395-413
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• 2009

Impact tests on high-strength membrane materials under biaxial loads were experimentally conducted in order to evaluate influence of biaxial loads on impact fracture of the membrane materials for the inflated applications. Cruciform specimens of the membrane materials were fabricated for applying biaxial loadings during the impact test. A steel ball was shot using a compressed nitrogen gas gun, and struck the membrane specimen. Impact tests on uniaxial strip specimens were also conducted to obtain the effect of specimen configuration and boundary condition on the impact fracture. The results of the measured crack length and the ultra-high speed photographs indicate the impact fracture properties of the membrane fabrics under biaxial loadings. Crack length due to the impact increased with applied tensile load, and the impact damages of the cruciform membrane materials under biaxial loadings were smaller than those of under uniaxial loadings. Impact fracture of the strip specimen was more severe than that of the cruciform specimen due to the difference of boundary conditions.

• Composites Research
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.246-250
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• 2018

In this paper, laser ultrasonic rotation scanning method was proposed to inspect and visualize defects in corner section of curved composite structure. L-shaped composite specimen with defects in its corner section were inspected using laser ultrasonic rotation scanning method. L-shaped specimens had artificial defects at three different depths to simulate delamination damage. All artificial defects were detected clearly in different time-of-flight according to their depths. Inspection result showed that the proposed method is suitable to inspect round corner section of curved composite structure without any special tools.

• Composites Research
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.404-411
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• 2018

As the autoclave process progresses in a given cure cycle, residual stress in the composite product is induced by cure shrinkage of the resin. As a result, It generates the thermal deformation such as spring-in and warpage, and the inaccuracy of the final product increases. It is important to predict thermal deformation in aerospace parts which require precise fabrication. The research has been done on predicting and grasping curing process of composite material. In this study, the cure mechanism of composite materials according to the process is predicted through finite element analysis, and the effect of cure shrinkage on thermal deformation generated by the process is analyzed.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.103-110
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• 2016

This study shows the statistical properties of the domestic composite material prepregs test result. During the last three years(2012.5~2015.6) the prepreg specimen tests have been performed by referring to NCAMP developed test procedure which was approved by FAA. The database of (1) Carbon Tape, (2) Glass Fabric, and (3) Carbon Fabric composite material prepregs' characteristics have been established for certified aircraft structures. This qualified materials can be used for aircraft structural design through proper material equivalency procedures.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.122-126
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• 2012

The Fe-based self-fluxing alloy powders and TiC particles were ball-milled and subsequently compacted and sintered at various temperatures, resulting in the TiC particle-reinforced Fe self-fluxing alloy hybrid composite, and the microstructure and micro-hardness were investigated. The initial Fe-based self-fluxing alloy powders and TiC particles showed the spherical shape with a mean size of approximately 80 ${\mu}m$ and the irregular shape of less than 5 ${\mu}m$, respectively. After ball-milling at 800 rpm for 5 h, the powder mixture of Fe-based self-fluxing alloy powders and TiC particles formed into the agglomerated powders with the size of approximately 10 ${\mu}m$ that was composed of the nanosized TiC particles and nano-sized alloy particles. The TiC particle-reinforced Fe-based self-fluxing alloy hybrid composite sintered at 1173 K revealed a much denser microstructure and higher micro-hardness than that sintered at 1073 K and 1273 K.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.482-488
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• 2014

Flexible forming technology has advantages in sheet metal forming, because it can be implemented to produce various shaped molds using a single apparatus. Due to this advantage, it is possible to apply it to the manufacture of an aircraft winglet mold. Presently, most aircraft winglets are manufactured from composite materials. Therefore, the mold for the curing process is an essential element in the fabrication of such composite materials. Compared to conventional mold forming, flexible forming has some advantages such as reduced manufacturing cost and uniformity of mold thickness. If the thickness of the mold is consistent, then the heat transfer will occur uniformly during the curing process leading to improved formability of the composite material. In the current study, numerical simulations were performed to investigate the possibility of flexible forming for manufacturing of the winglet mold. In order to match the size of the actual product, the shape of objective surface was divided to fit the dimensions of the apparatus. The results from the numerical simulations are compared with the objective surface to verify the accuracy. In conclusion, the current study confirms the feasibility and the potential to manufacture winglet molds by flexible forming.

• Advanced Composite Materials
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.21-42
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• 2009

The vibration characteristics of post-buckled laminated composite doubly curved shells are investigated. The finite element method is used for the analysis of post-buckling and free vibration of post-buckled laminated shells. The geometric non-linear finite element model includes the general non-linear terms in the strain-displacement relationships. The shell geometry used in the present formulation is derived using an orthogonal curvilinear coordinate system. Based on the principle of virtual work the non-linear finite element equations are derived. Arc-length method is implemented to capture the load-displacement equilibrium curve. The vibration characteristics of post-buckled shell are performed using tangent stiffness obtained from the converged deflection. The code is first validated and then employed to generate numerical results. Parametric studies are performed to analyze the snapping and vibration characteristics. The relationship between loads and fundamental frequencies and between loads and the corresponding displacements are determined for various parameters such as thickness ratio and shallowness.

• Composites Research
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.321-328
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• 2023

This study developed the in-situ stamp-forming process using the multi-axis robotic arm to fabricate thermal composite parts. Optimal fabrication parameters with the multi-axis robotic arm were determined using finite element analysis and these parameters were further refined through the practical manufacturing process. A comparison between the manufactured parts and finite element analysis results was conducted regarding thickness uniformity and wrinkle distribution to confirm the validity of the finite element analysis. Additionally, to evaluate the formability of the manufactured composite parts, measurements of crystallinity and porosity were taken. Consequently, this study establishes the feasibility of the In-situ stamp-forming consolidation using a robotic arm and verifies the potential for producing composite parts through this process.