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Marques, E. R. C.

Publications and source records attributed to Marques, E. R. C..

Ultrasonic determination of the elastic constants of the stiffness matrix for unidirectional fiberglass epoxy composites

The elastic constants of a fiberglass epoxy unidirectional composite are determined by measuring the phase velocities of longitudinal and shear stress waves via the through transmission ultrasonic technique. The waves introduced into the composite specimens were generated by piezoceramic transducers. Geometric lengths and the times required to travel those lengths were used to calculate the phase velocities. The model of the transversely isotropic medium was adopted to relate the velocities and elastic constants.

Marques, E. R. C.↗

Parameterized materials and dynamic response characterizations in unidirectional composites

The values of phase velocities of ultrasonic waves in transversely isotropic media are presented in terms of the fiber volume fraction of a unidirectional fiberglass epoxy composite with constant matrix properties and the ratio between extensional moduli in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the composite when the properties of the fibers are changed, at a constant fiber volume fraction. The model of a homogeneous transversely isotropic medium is adopted to describe the relations between elastic properties and velocities. The displacements due to an oscillatory point source in an infinite medium are used as one measure of comparison of the behavior of the unidirectional composite according to the variations of the parameters, as described above. Values of phase velocities, elastic moduli, Poisson's ratios and displacements due to a point source can be read from the parameterized plots for a known fiber volume fraction or a known ratio between extensional moduli of the composite. Alternatively fiber volume fraction and the ratio between extensional moduli can be inferred from the plots when the values of the phase velocities are known; for example from experimental measurements. Therefore, such parameterized curves may be useful in nondestructive mechanical property and material degradation characterizations.

Williams, J. H., Jr.↗

Modes of vibration on sqaure fiberglass epoxy composite thick plate

The frequencies and nodal patterns of a square thick plate of unidirectional fiberglass epoxy composite are measured experimentally. The constituent material is transversely isotropic. The plate is transversely excited at the center of the upper face, its resonant frequencies in the frequency range of 3 kHz to 21.73 kHz are detected and the measured nodal patterns are sketched.

Williams, J. H., Jr.↗

Wave propagation in anisotropic medium due to an oscillatory point source with application to unidirectional composites

The far-field displacements in an infinite transversely isotropic elastic medium subjected to an oscillatory concentrated force are derived. The concepts of velocity surface, slowness surface and wave surface are used to describe the geometry of the wave propagation process. It is shown that the decay of the wave amplitudes depends not only on the distance from the source (as in isotropic media) but also depends on the direction of the point of interest from the source. As an example, the displacement field is computed for a laboratory fabricated unidirectional fiberglass epoxy composite. The solution for the displacements is expressed as an amplitude distribution and is presented in polar diagrams. This analysis has potential usefulness in the acoustic emission (AE) and ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation of composite materials. For example, the transient localized disturbances which are generally associated with AE sources can be modeled via this analysis. In which case, knowledge of the displacement field which arrives at a receiving transducer allows inferences regarding the strength and orientation of the source, and consequently perhaps the degree of damage within the composite.

Williams, J. H., Jr.↗

Stress waves in transversely isotropic media: The homogeneous problem

The homogeneous problem of stress wave propagation in unbounded transversely isotropic media is analyzed. By adopting plane wave solutions, the conditions for the existence of the solution are established in terms of phase velocities and directions of particle displacements. Dispersion relations and group velocities are derived from the phase velocity expressions. The deviation angles (e.g., angles between the normals to the adopted plane waves and the actual directions of their propagation) are numerically determined for a specific fiber-glass epoxy composite. A graphical method is introduced for the construction of the wave surfaces using magnitudes of phase velocities and deviation angles. The results for the case of isotropic media are shown to be contained in the solutions for the transversely isotropic media.

Marques, E. R. C.↗