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Chamis, C. C.

Publications and source records attributed to Chamis, C. C..

At least 307 records · Page 17

Rim-spoke composite flywheels: Stress and vibration analysis

Elementary relations are described to determine the material utilization efficiency of a thin wall rim composite flywheel over other configurations. An algorithm is generated for the automatic selection of the optimum composite material for a given thin rim flywheel environment. Subsequently, the computer program NASTRAN is used to perform a detailed stress and vibration analysis of thin wall cylindrical shell rim spoke, single rim and multirim composite flywheels for a specific application.

Chamis, C. C.↗

Ten deg off-axis tensile test for intralaminar shear characterization of fiber composites

A combined theoretical and experimental investigation was conducted to assess the suitability of the 10 deg off-axis tensile test specimen for the intralaminar shear characterization of unidirectional composites. Composite mechanics, a combined-stress failure criterion, and a finite element analysis were used to determine theoretically the stress-strain variation across the specimen width and the relative stress and strain magnitudes at the 10 deg plane. Strain gages were used to measure the strain variation across the specimen width at specimen midlength and near the end tabs. Specimens from Mod-I/epoxy, T-300/epoxy, and S-glass/epoxy were used in the experimental program. It was found that the 10 deg off-axis tensile test specimen is suitable for intralaminar shear characterization and it is recommended that it should be considered as a possible standard test specimen for such a characterization.

Chamis, C. C.↗

Free vibrations of the ERDA-NASA 100 kW wind turbine

The ERDA-NASA wind turbine (windmill), which consists of a 93-foot truss tower, a bed plate that supports mechanical and electrical equipment, and two 62.5-foot long blades, was analyzed to determine its free vibrations using NASTRAN. The finite element representation of the system consisted of beam and plate elements. The free vibrations of the tower alone, the blades alone, and the complete system were determined experimentally in the field. These results were obtained by instrumenting the tower or blades with an accelerometer and impacting the components with an instrumented mass. The predicted results for natural frequencies and mode shapes were in excellent agreement with measured data.

Chamis, C. C.↗

Free vibrations of the ERDA-NASA 100 kW wind turbine

The ERDA-NASA wind turbine (windmill), which consists of a 93-foot truss tower, a bed plate that supports mechanical and electrical equipment, and two 62.5-foot long blades, was analyzed to determine its free vibrations using NASTRAN. The finite element representation of the system consisted of beam and plate elements. The free vibrations of the tower alone, the blades alone, and the complete system were determined experimentally in the field. These results were obtained by instrumenting the tower or blades with an accelerometer and impacting the components with an instrumented mass. The predicted results for natural frequencies and mode shapes were in excellent agreement with measured data.

Chamis, C. C.↗

Vibration characteristics of composite fan blades and comparison with measured data

The vibration characteristics of a composite fan blade for high-tip-speed applications were determined theoretically and the results compared with measured data. The theoretical results were obtained using a computerized capability consisting of NASTRAN coupled with composite mechanics by way of pre- and postprocessors. The predicted vibration frequencies and mode shapes were in reasonable agreement with the measured data. Theoretical results showed that different laminate configurations from the same composite system had only small effects on the blade frequency. However, the use of adhesively bonded titanium/beryllium laminar composites may improve considerably the blade vibration characteristics.

Chamis, C. C.↗

Failure mechanics of fiber composite notched charpy specimens

A finite element stress analysis was performed to determine the stress variation in the vicinity of the notch and far field of fiber composites Charpy specimens (ASTM Standard). NASTRAN was used for the finite element analysis assuming linear behavior and equivalent static load. The unidirectional composites investigated ranged from Thornel 75 Epoxy to S-Glass/Epoxy with the fiber direction parallel to the long dimension of the specimen. The results indicate a biaxial stress state exists in (1) the notch vicinity which is dominated by transverse tensile and interlaminar shear and (2) near the load application point which is dominated by transverse compression and interlaminar shear. The results also lead to the postulation of hypotheses for the predominant failure modes, the fracture initiation, and the fracture process. Finally, the results indicate that the notched Charpy test specimen is not suitable for assessing the impact resistance of nonmetallic fiber composites directly.

Chamis, C. C.↗

Vibration characteristics of composite fan blades and comparison with measured data

The vibration characteristics of a composite fan blade for high-tip-speed applications were determined theoretically and the results compared with measured data. The theoretical results were obtained using a computerized capability consisting of NASTRAN coupled with composite mechanics by way of pre- and postprocessors. The predicted vibration frequencies and mode shapes were in reasonable agreement with the measured data. Theoretical results showed that different laminate configurations from the same composite system had only small effects on the blade frequency. However, the use of adhesively bonded titanium/beryllium laminar composites may improve considerably the blade vibration characteristics.

Chamis, C. C.↗

Super-hybrid composites - An emerging structural material

Specimens of super-hybrids and advanced fiber composites were subjected to extensive tests to determine their mechanical properties, including impact and thermal fatigue. The super-hybrids were fabricated by a procedure similar to that reported by Chamis et al., (1975). Super-hybrids subjected to 1000 cycles of thermal fatigue from -100 to 300 F retained over 90% of their longitudinal flexural strength and over 75% of their transverse flexural strength; their transverse flexural strength may be as high as 8 times that of a commercially supplied boron/1100-Al composite. The thin specimen Izod longitudinal impact resistance of the super-hybrids was twice that of the boron/110-Al material. Super-hybrids subjected to transverse tensile loads exhibited nonlinear stress-strain relationships. The experimentally determined initial membrane (in-plane) and bending elastic properties of super-hybrids were predicted adequately by linear laminate analysis.

Chamis, C. C.↗

Analytical displacements and vibrations of cantilevered unsymmetric fiber composite laminates

A fiber composite flat cantilever plate that has symmetric and nonsymmetric laminate configurations is theoretically investigated to determine its static and dynamic structural response. The finite element analysis method used includes a unique triangular finite element developed at Lewis for the analysis of fiber composite airfoils. The various responses investigated include tip displacements, natural frequencies, and fundamental mode shapes. The results show that laminate configurations may be selected for a cantilever such that when the tip at the leading edge is loaded normal to the plane of the plate, the tip at the trailing edge can (1) deflect in the opposite direction, (2) deflect about the same, or (3) deflect more than the tip at the leading edge. This variation in response can be utilized to provide built-in structural damping to resist flutter.

Minich, M. D.↗

Structural response of fiber composite fan blades

A fiber composite airfoil, typical for high-tip speed compressor applications, is subjected to load conditions anticipated to be encountered in such applications, and its structural response is theoretically investigated. The analysis method used consists of composite mechanics embedded in pre- and post-processors and coupled with NASTRAN. The load conditions examined include thermal due to aerodynamic heating, pressure due to aerodynamic forces, centrifugal, and combinations of these. The various responses investigated include root reactions due to various load conditions, average composite and ply stresses, ply delaminations, and the fundamental modes and the corresponding reactions. The results show that the thermal and pressure stresses are negligible compared to those caused by the centrifugal forces. Also, the core-shell concept for composite blades is an inefficient design (core plies not highly stressed) and appears to be sensitive to interply delaminations. The results are presented in graphical and tabular forms to illustrate the types and amount of data required for such an analysis, and to provide quantitative data of the various responses which can be helpful in designing such composite blades.

Chamis, C. C.↗

Boron/aluminum graphite/resin advanced fiber composite hybrids

Fabrication feasibility and potential of an adhesively bonded metal and resin matrix fiber-composite hybrid are determined as an advanced material for aerospace and other structural applications. The results show that using this hybrid concept makes possible a composite design which, when compared with nonhybrid composites, has greater transverse strength, transverse stiffness, and impact resistance with only a small penalty on density and longitudinal properties. The results also show that laminate theory is suitable for predicting the structural response of such hybrids. The sequence of fracture modes indicates that these types of hybrids can be readily designed to meet fail-safe requirements.

Chamis, C. C.↗

Structural response of a fiber composite compressor fan blade airfoil

A theoretical investigation was performed to determine the structural response of a fiber composite airfoil typical of those encountered in high-tip speed compressor fan blades when subjected to load conditions anticipated in such applications. The analysis method consisted of composite mechanics embedded in pre- and post-processors coupled with NASTRAN. The load conditions examined include thermal due to aerodynamic heating, pressure due to aerodynamic forces, and centrifugal. Root reactions due to various load conditions, average composite and ply stresses, ply delaminations, and the fundamental modes and the corresponding reactions were investigated. The results show that the thermal and pressure stresses are negligible compared to those caused by the centrifugal forces. The core-shell concept for composite blades is an inefficient design and is sensitive to interply delaminations. The results are presented in graphical and tabular forms to illustrate the types and amount of data required for the analysis, and to provide quantitative data associated with the various responses which can be helpful in designing composite blades.

Chamis, C. C.↗

Analytical displacements and vibrations of cantilevered unsymmetric fiber composite laminates

A fiber composite flat cantilever plate that has symmetric and nonsymmetric laminate configurations is theoretically investigated to determine its static and dynamic structural response. The finite element analysis method used includes a unique triangular finite element developed at Lewis for the analysis of fiber composite airfoils. The various responses investigated include tip displacements, natural frequencies, and fundamental mode shapes. The results show that the displacements and the natural frequencies can be in considerable error for nonsymmetric laminate configurations if the membrane-bending coupling is not taken into account. Structural response results obtained from ten laminate configurations are presented in tabular forms and may be used as an aid in selecting laminate configurations for composite airfoils.

Minich, M. D.↗

Structural design and analysis. Part 1

Topics in anisotropic elasticity are discussed along with the analysis of truss, beam, frame, and membrane components. Attention is given to failure criteria and failure analysis of composite structural components. Other subjects considered are related to the analysis of plates, the analysis of shells, and questions of wave propagation and impact in composite materials. Individual items are announced in this issue.

Chamis, C. C.↗

A theory for predicting composite laminate warpage resulting from fabrication

Linear laminate theory is used in conjunction with the moment-curvature relationship to derive equations for predicting end deflections due to warpage without solving the coupled fourth-order partial differential equations of the plate. Using these equations, it is found that a 1 deg error in the orientation angle of one ply is sufficient to produce warpage end deflection equal to two laminate thicknesses in a 10 inch by 10 inch laminate made from 8-ply Mod-I/epoxy. From a sensitivity analysis on the governing parameters, it is found that a 3 deg fiber migration or a void volume ratio of three percent in some plies is sufficient to produce laminate warpage corner deflection equal to several laminate thicknesses. Tabular and graphical data are presented which can be used to identify possible errors contributing to laminate warpage and/or to obtain an a priori assessment when unavoidable errors during fabrication are anticipated.

Chamis, C. C.↗

Design of composite structural components

Aspects related to the evolution of design are examined. A schematic of the evolution of the design objective and a schematic of designing a structural component from fiber composites are presented. A description of conventional design procedures is given, taking into account design handbooks, design guides, various sources of design information, and typical design data. Optimization methods are discussed, giving attention to parametric studies, the structural index method, aspects of structural synthesis, and questions of simultaneous material and structural design optimization.

Chamis, C. C.↗

Combined-load stress-strain relationship for advanced fiber composites

It was demonstrated experimentally that only one test specimen is required to determine the combined-load stress-strain relationships of a given fiber composite system. These relationships were determined using a thin angle-plied laminate tube and subjecting it to a number of combined-loading conditions. The measured data obtained are compared with theoretical predictions. Some important considerations associated with such a test are identified, and the significance of combined-load stress-strain relationships in certain practical designs are discussed.

Chamis, C. C.↗