Engineering topics

Kaw, Autar K.

Publications and source records attributed to Kaw, Autar K..

3 records

NASA NTRS1991

The semi-infinite strip problem in the mechanics of composite materials

Many problems, ranging from interface-fiber fracture to determining the strength of fiber-matrix interfaces in composites, can be greatly assisted by a complete understanding of the boundary value problem of a semi-infinite strip. The specific boundary value problem of a semi-infinite strip with symmetric tractions on the transverse edges and normal loads on the end is investigated in the present study. The nature of the singular behavior in the slope of the end vertical displacement at the corner points is found. An asymptotic analysis of the solution shows that, depending on the nature of the applied stresses in the vicinity of the corner points, the singularity in the slope of the end vertical displacement may either be a power or logarithmic type, both, or not exist at all. Illustrative examples, for which exact or numerical results are known, are given. Numerical procedures are also given. The direct application of the results of the paper are illustrated for several problems in the mechanics of composite materials.

Kaw, Autar K.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Damage growth in composite laminates with interleaves

The influence of interleaves on the fracture behavior of laminated composites is investigated. The geometry of the composite consists of a cracked layer, bonded between two half-planes, which is separated by thin, low modulus, interleaves. The interleaves are modeled as uncoupled tension and shear springs. A stress analysis is carried out for a crack which may grow up to and spread along the interface. Integral transform techniques are used to develop the solution in terms of singular integral equations. An asymptotic analysis reveals logarithmic singularities in the critical stresses for the case of a broken layer. The equations are solved numerically and the effect of damage on critical stresses is studied. Initial results indicate that the interleaf gives a significant reduction in stresses in the adjacent regions and, if properly selected, should result in a more damage tolerant laminate.

Goree, James G.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Fracture and crack growth in orthotropic laminates

A mathematical model based on the classical shear-lag assumptions is used to study the residual strength and fracture behavior of composite laminates with symmetrically placed buffer strips. The laminate is loaded by a uniform remote longitudinal tensile strain and has initial damage in the form of a transverse crack in the parent laminate between buffer strips. The crack growth behavior as a function of material properties, number of buffer-strip plies, spacing, width of buffer strips, longitudinal matrix splitting, and debonding at the interface is studied. Buffer-strip laminates are shown to arrest fracture and increase the residual strengths significantly over those of one material laminates, with S-glass being a more effective buffer strip material than Kevlar in increasing the damage tolerance of graphite/epoxy panels. For a typical graphite/epoxy laminate with S-glass buffer-strips, the residual strength is about 2.4 times the residual strength of an all graphite/epoxy panel with the same crack length. Approximately 50% of this increase is due to the S-glass/epoxy buffer-strips, 40% due to longitudinal splitting of the buffer strip interface and 10% due to bonding.

Goree, James G.↗