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Gurdal, Zafer

Publications and source records attributed to Gurdal, Zafer.

At least 19 records

An Experimental Investigation concerning the Effects of AFP Defects on Progressive Failure of Tensile Coupons

This paper discusses characterization approaches for the evaluation of potential defects that may occur during the automated fiber placement (AFP) process. Two nondestructive evaluation techniques were utilized simultaneously, acoustic emission (AE) and digital image correlation (DIC), to investigate correlations between mechanical properties and damage propagation during tension tests. The layup configuration is designed with the defect running across the width, and the stacking sequence with seven layers is produced: [−45/0/45/̅9̅̅0̅]s. A total of 3 panels were manufactured: one containing a gap defect in the middle layer, another one with an overlap defect, and a pristine panel for baseline comparison. Each panel accommodates six coupons having dimensions of 20” x 2”. The results indicate that defects caused during the manufacturing process affect damage initiation and growth.

Anay, Rafal

Automated Fiber Placement Defect Identity Cards: Cause, Anticipation, Existence, Significance, and Progression

Automated Fiber Placement (AFP), a major composite manufacturing process, can result in many defects during the layup process that often require manual corrective action to produce a part with acceptable quality. These defects are the main limitation of the technology and can be hard to categorize or define in many situations. This paper provides a thorough definition and classification of all AFP defects. This effort constitutes a comprehensive and extensive library relevant to AFP defects. The defects selected and defined in this work are based on understanding and experience from the manufacture and research of advanced composite structure. Proper classification of these defects required an in-depth literature review and consideration of various viewpoints ranging from designers, manufacturers, analysts, and inspection professionals. Collectively, these sources were utilized to develop the most accurate view of each of the individual defect types. The results are presented as identity cards for each defect type, intended to provide researchers and the manufacturing industry a clear understanding of the (1) cause, (2) anticipation, (3) existence, (4) significance, and (5) progression of the defined AFP defects. The link between AFP defects and process planning, layup strategies, and machining was also investigated. Categorization of all important automated fiber placement defects is presented.

Harik, Ramy

Evaluation of a Highly Anticlastic Panel with Tow Overlaps

A rectangular, variable-stiffness panel with tow overlaps was manufactured using an advanced tow placement machine. The cured panel had large anticlastic imperfections, with measured amplitudes of over two times the average panel thickness. These imperfections were not due to the overall steered-fiber layup or the tow overlaps, but instead resulted from local asymmetries in the laminate that were caused by a manufacturing oversight. In the nominal panel layup, fiber angles vary linearly from 60 degrees on the panel axial centerline to 30 degrees on the parallel edges. A geometrically nonlinear analysis was performed with a -280 degree Fahrenheit thermal load to simulate the postcure cooldown to room temperature. The predicted geometric imperfections correlated well with the measured panel shape. Unique structural test fixtures were then developed which greatly reduced these imperfections, but they also caused prestresses in the panel. Surface imperfections measured after the panel was installed in the test fixtures were used with nonlinear finite element analyses to predict these fixturing-induced prestresses. These prestresses were also included in structural analyses of panel end compression to failure, and the analytical results compared well with test data when both geometric and material nonlinearities were included.

Wu, K. Chauncey

Variable Stiffness Panel Structural Analyses With Material Nonlinearity and Correlation With Tests

Results from structural analyses of three tow-placed AS4/977-3 composite panels with both geometric and material nonlinearities are presented. Two of the panels have variable stiffness layups where the fiber orientation angle varies as a continuous function of location on the panel planform. One variable stiffness panel has overlapping tow bands of varying thickness, while the other has a theoretically uniform thickness. The third panel has a conventional uniform-thickness [plus or minus 45](sub 5s) layup with straight fibers, providing a baseline for comparing the performance of the variable stiffness panels. Parametric finite element analyses including nonlinear material shear are first compared with material characterization test results for two orthotropic layups. This nonlinear material model is incorporated into structural analysis models of the variable stiffness and baseline panels with applied end shortenings. Measured geometric imperfections and mechanical prestresses, generated by forcing the variable stiffness panels from their cured anticlastic shapes into their flatter test configurations, are also modeled. Results of these structural analyses are then compared to the measured panel structural response. Good correlation is observed between the analysis results and displacement test data throughout deep postbuckling up to global failure, suggesting that nonlinear material behavior is an important component of the actual panel structural response.

Wu, K. Chauncey

Enhancements of Tow-Steering Design Techniques: Design of Rectangular Panel Under Combined Loads

An extension to existing design tools that utilize tow-steering is presented which is used to investigate the use of elastic tailoring for a flat panel with a central hole under combined loads of compression and shear. The elastic tailoring is characterized by tow-steering within individual lamina as well as a novel approach based on selective reinforcement, which attempts to minimize compliance through the use of Cellular Automata design concepts. The selective reinforcement designs lack any consideration of manufacturing constraints, so a new tow-steered path definition was developed to translate the prototype selective reinforcement designs into manufacturable plies. The minimum weight design of a flat panel under combined loading was based on a model provided by NASA-Langley personnel and analyzed by STAGS within the OLGA design environment. Baseline designs using traditional straight fiber plies were generated, as well as tow-steered designs which incorporated parallel, tow-drop, and overlap plies within the laminate. These results indicated that the overlap method provided the best improvement with regards to weight and performance as compared to traditional constant stiffness monocoque panels, though the laminates did not measure up to similar designs from the literature using sandwich and isogrid constructions. Further design studies were conducted using various numbers of the selective reinforcement plies at the core and outer surface of the laminate. None of these configurations exhibited notable advantages with regard to weight or buckling performance. This was due to the fact that the minimization of the compliance tended to direct the major stresses toward the center of the panel, which decreased the ability of the structure to withstand loads leading to instability.

Tatting, Brian F.

Finite Element Analysis of Geodesically Stiffened Cylindrical Composite Shells Using a Layerwise Theory

Layerwise finite element analyses of geodesically stiffened cylindrical shells are presented. The layerwise laminate theory of Reddy (LWTR) is developed and adapted to circular cylindrical shells. The Ritz variational method is used to develop an analytical approach for studying the buckling of simply supported geodesically stiffened shells with discrete stiffeners. This method utilizes a Lagrange multiplier technique to attach the stiffeners to the shell. The development of the layerwise shells couples a one-dimensional finite element through the thickness with a Navier solution that satisfies the boundary conditions. The buckling results from the Ritz discrete analytical method are compared with smeared buckling results and with NASA Testbed finite element results. The development of layerwise shell and beam finite elements is presented and these elements are used to perform the displacement field, stress, and first-ply failure analyses. The layerwise shell elements are used to model the shell skin and the layerwise beam elements are used to model the stiffeners. This arrangement allows the beam stiffeners to be assembled directly into the global stiffness matrix. A series of analytical studies are made to compare the response of geodesically stiffened shells as a function of loading, shell geometry, shell radii, shell laminate thickness, stiffener height, and geometric nonlinearity. Comparisons of the structural response of geodesically stiffened shells, axial and ring stiffened shells, and unstiffened shells are provided. In addition, interlaminar stress results near the stiffener intersection are presented. First-ply failure analyses for geodesically stiffened shells utilizing the Tsai-Wu failure criterion are presented for a few selected cases.

Gerhard, Craig Steven

Compression of laminated composite beams with initial damage

The effect of isolated damage modes on the compressive strength and failure characteristics of laminated composite test specimens were evaluated experimentally and numerically. In addition to specimens without initial damage, specimens with three types of initial damage were considered: (1) specimens with short delaminations distributed evenly through the specimen thickness, (2) specimens with few long delaminations, and (3) specimens with local fiber damage in the surface plies under the three-point bend contact point. It was found that specimens with short multiple delamination experienced the greatest reduction in compression strength compared to the undamaged specimens. Single delaminations far from the specimen surface had little effect on the final compression strength, and moderate strength reduction was observed for specimens with localized surface ply damage.

Breivik, Nicole L.

Optimal design of imperfect, anisotropic, ring-stiffened cylinders under combined loads

Development of an algorithm to perform the optimal sizing of buckling resistant, imperfect, anisotropic ring-stiffened cylinders subjected to axial compression, torsion, and internal pressure is presented. The enforcement of stability constraints is treated in a way that does not require any eigenvalue analysis. Assumption of criticality of these stability constraints during the optimal sizing of the cylinders produced designs that nevertheless satisfied all of the stress constraints as well as the stability constraints. Case studies performed using a combination of penalty function and feasible direction optimization methods indicate that the presence of the axisymmetric initial imperfection in the cylinder wall can significantly affect the optimal designs. Weight savings associated with the addition of two rings to the unstiffened cylinder and/or the addition of internal pressure is substantial when torsion makes up a significant fraction of the combined load state.

Ley, Robert P.

Buckling response of laminates with spatially varying fiber orientations

The buckling response of a symmetrically laminated composite panel with a spatially varying fiber orientation has been analyzed. Variation of the fiber orientation angle as a function of the position in the panel results in a composite laminate with stiffness properties that are functions of the panel coordinates. The laminates are therefore termed variable stiffness panels. The fiber orientation is assumed to vary only in one spatial direction, although the analysis can be extended to fiber orientations that vary in two spatial directions. The Ritz Method has been used to find the buckling loads and buckling modes for the variable stiffness panels for two different cases. In one of the cases the fiber orientation is assumed to change in the direction of the applied load. The other case is the one in which the fiber orientation varies in a direction perpendicular to the loading direction. Improvements in the buckling load of up to 80 percent over straight fiber configurations were found. Results for three different panel aspect ratios are presented.

Olmedo, Reynaldo

Optimization of composite laminates

Design of composite structures can be viewed as a multi-faceted task, one which requires integration of issues related to composite mechanics, structural analysis, optimization, and manufacturing. The major coverage of the paper is on the issue of optimization, with special emphasis on the use of optimization for designing with discrete and integer valued variables required for the stacking-sequence optimization. Different techniques that can be used for stacking sequence optimization are introduced, and different aspects of their application are demonstrated for laminate buckling optimization.

Gurdal, Zafer

Buckling of imperfect, anisotropic, ring-stiffened cylinders under combined loads

The objectives of this study is to develop an analysis to predict loads of ring-stiffened anisotropic cylinders subject to axial compression, torsion and internal pressure. This structure is modeled as a branched shell. A nonlinear axisymmetric prebuckling equilibrium state is assumed which is amenable to exact solution within each branch. Axisymmetric geometric imperfections are included. Buckling displacements are represented by a Fourier series in the circumferential coordinate and the finite element method in the axial coordinate. Application of Trefftz criterion to the second variation of the total potential energy leads to a nonlinear eigenvalue problem for the buckling load and mode. Results are presented for both unstiffened and ring-stiffened cylinders in the form of buckling interaction diagrams. Imperfections can cause an unexpected buckling mode in the ring web which would not occur for the perfect structure, and pressurization diminishes the benefit of adding rings to the unstiffened shell to increase the buckling load. The implementation of the analysis methodology into a structural sizing algorithm is discussed.

Ley, Robert P.

Effects of processing induced defects on laminate response - Interlaminar tensile strength

Four different layup methods were used in the present study of the interlaminar tensile strength of AS4/3501-6 graphite-reinforced epoxy as a function of defects from manufacturing-induced porosity. The methods were: (1) baseline hand layup, (2) solvent wipe of prepreg for resin removal, (3) moisture-introduction between plies, and (4) a low-pressure cure cycle. Pore characterization was conducted according to ASTM D-2734. A significant reduction is noted in the out-of-plane tensile strength as a function of increasing void content; the porosity data were used in an empirical model to predict out-of-plane strength as a function of porosity.

Gurdal, Zafer

A method for the geometrically nonlinear analysis of compressively loaded prismatic composite structures

A method was developed for the geometrically nonlinear analysis of the static response of thin-walled stiffened composite structures loaded in uniaxial or biaxial compression. The method is applicable to arbitrary prismatic configurations composed of linked plate strips, such as stiffened panels and thin-walled columns. The longitudinal ends of the structure are assumed to be simply supported, and geometric shape imperfections can be modeled. The method can predict the nonlinear phenomena of postbuckling strength and imperfection sensitivity which are exhibited by some buckling-dominated structures. The method is computer-based and is semi-analytic in nature, making it computationally economical in comparison to finite element methods. The method uses a perturbation approach based on the use of a series of buckling mode shapes to represent displacement contributions associated with nonlinear response. Displacement contributions which are of second order in the model amplitudes are incorported in addition to the buckling mode shapes. The principle of virtual work is applied using a finite basis of buckling modes, and terms through the third order in the model amplitudes are retained. A set of cubic nonlinear algebraic equations are obtained, from which approximate equilibrium solutions are determined. Buckling mode shapes for the general class of structure are obtained using the VIPASA analysis code within the PASCO stiffened-panel design code. Thus, subject to some additional restrictions in loading and plate anisotropy, structures which can be modeled with respect to buckling behavior by VIPASA can be analyzed with respect to nonlinear response using the new method. Results obtained using the method are compared with both experimental and analytical results in the literature. The configurations investigated include several different unstiffened and blade-stiffening panel configurations, featuring both homogeneous, isotropic materials, and laminated composite material.

Stoll, Frederick

Minimum-weight design of laminated composite plates for postbuckling performance

Minimum-weight design of simply-supported, symmetrically laminated, thin, rectangular, specially orthotropic laminated plates for buckling and postbuckling strength is investigated. The postbuckling analysis is based on an Marguerre-type energy method. The failure load of laminates is calculated by the maximum strain failure criterion based on the in-plane strains. Design variables are individual layer thicknesses with specified fiber orientations. Optimization with discrete valued design is achieved by introducing additional penalty terms to the regular pseudoobjective function of sequential unconstrained minimization technique. The proposed optimization technique is applied to the design of rectangular laminates with various aspect ratios loaded by axial compressive loads.

Shin, Dong KU

Importance of anisotropy on design of compression-loaded composite corrugated panels

An investigation is conducted of the importance of anisotropic terms in the design of composite corrugated panels, for a range of axial compressive load intensities. The two panel configurations treated were panels with tailored laminates and panels with a continuous laminate; both are of interest to aircraft designers and prone to anisotropic effects which are of as-yet undetermined extent. The importance of the anisotropic terms is measured by the difference between the design load and the buckling load obtained from the ultimate structural analysis.

Gurdal, Zafer

Nonlinear analysis of compressively loaded linked-plate structures

A method is presented for the geometrically nonlinear analysis of the equilibrium behavior of a general class of compressively loaded, prismatic, linked-plate structures. The semi-analytical method accounts for geometric shape imperfections, and allows the use of laminated composite plate properties. Buckling eigenfunctions are used as displacement shape functions, and the associated second-order displacement fields are incorporated. The nonlinear plate equilibrium equations are expressed in terms of the assumed displacement form, and the Galerkin method is used to obtain a set of algebraic equations which are nonlinear in the modal amplitudes and the load parameter. Buckling eigensolutions for the class of structures under consideration can be obtained from the VIPASA computer code; thus, subject to some additional restrictions in loading and plate anisotropy, structural configurations which can be analyzed with regard to buckling response by VIPASA can be analyzed with regard to geometrically nonlinear response using the new method.

Stoll, Frederick