Search NASASearch

Engineering topics

Sullivan, T. L.

Publications and source records attributed to Sullivan, T. L..

At least 37 records · Page 2

Elastic properties and fracture strength of quasi-isotropic graphite/epoxy composites

A research program is described which was devised to determine experimentally the elastic properties in tension and bending of quasi-isotropic laminates made from high-modulus graphite fiber and epoxy. Four laminate configurations were investigated, and determinations were made of the tensile modulus, Poisson's ratio, bending stiffness, fracture strength, and fracture strain. The measured properties are compared with those predicted by laminate theory, reasons for scatter in the experimental data are discussed, and the effect of fiber misalignment on predicted elastic tensile properties is examined. The results strongly suggest that fiber misalignment in combination with variation in fiber volume content is responsible for the scatter in both elastic constants and fracture strength.

Sullivan, T. L.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Advanced fiber-composite hybrids--A new structural material

Introduction of metal foil as part of matrix and fiber composite, or ""sandwich'', improves strength and stiffness for multidirectional loading, improves resistance to cyclic loading, and improves impact and erosion resistance of resultant fiber-composite hybrid structure.

Chamis, C. C.

A computational procedure to analyze metal matrix laminates with nonlinear lamination residual strains

An approximate computational procedure is described for the analysis of angleplied laminates with residual nonlinear strains. The procedure consists of a combination of linear composite mechanics and incremental linear laminate theory. The procedure accounts for initial nonlinear strains, unloading, and in-situ matrix orthrotropic nonlinear behavior. The results obtained in applying the procedure to boron/aluminum angleplied laminates show that this is a convenient means to accurately predict the initial tangent properties of angleplied laminates in which the matrix has been strained nonlinearly by the lamination residual stresses. The procedure predicted initial tangent properties results which were in good agreement with measured data obtained from boron/aluminum angleplied laminates.

Chamis, C. C.

A computational procedure to analyze metal matrix laminates with nonlinear lamination residual strains

An approximate computational procedure is described for the analysis of angleplied laminates with residual nonlinear strains. The procedure consists of a combination of linear composite mechanics and incremental linear laminate theory. The procedure accounts for initial nonlinear strains, unloading, and in-situ matrix orthotropic nonlinear behavior. The results obtained in applying the procedure to boron/aluminum angleplied laminates show that this is a convenient means to accurately predict the initial tangent properties of angleplied laminates in which the matrix has been strained nonlinearly by the lamination residual stresses. The procedure predicted initial tangent properties results which were in good agreement with measured data obtained from boron/aluminum angleplied laminates.

Chamis, C. C.

Boron/aluminum-graphite/resin advanced fiber composite hybrids

An investigation was conducted to determine the fabrication feasibility and to assess the potential of adhesively-bonded metal and resin matrix fiber composite hybrids as an advanced material, for aerospace and other structural applications. The results of fabrication studies and of evaluation of physical and mechanical properties show that using this hybrid concept it is possible to design a composite which, when compared to nonhybrid composites, has improved 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 perdicting 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.

Boron/aluminum-graphite/resin advanced fiber composite hybrids

An investigation was conducted to determine the fabrication feasibility and to assess the potential of adhesively-bonded metal and resin matrix fiber composite hybrids as an advanced material, for aerospace and other structural applications. The results of fabrication studies and of evaluation of physical and mechanical properties show that using this hybrid concept it is possible to design a composite which, when compared to nonhybrid composites, has improved 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.

Nonlinear response of boron/aluminum angleplied laminates under cyclic tensile loading - Contributing mechanisms and their effects

The nonlinear response of boron/aluminum angleplied laminates subjected to cyclic loads was investigated. A procedure is outlined and criteria are proposed which can be used to assess the nonlinear response. The procedure consists of testing strategically selected laminate configurations and analyzing the results using composite mechanics. Results from the investigation show the contributions to nonlinear behavior are from: premature random fiber breaks where the ply orientation angle is small relative to the load direction, ply relative rotation at intermediate values of the ply orientation angle, and nonlinear aluminum matrix behavior at large values of the orientation angle. Premature fiber breaks result in progressively more compliant material; large ply relative rotations result in progressively stiffer material; and pronounced matrix nonlinear behavior results in no significant change in the stiffness of the initial load portion.

Chamis, C. C.

Theoretical and experimental investigation of the nonlinear behavior of angleplied boron/aluminum composites.

Specimens from angleplied laminates of boron/aluminum composites were tested and the results analyzed. The specimens consisted of eight-ply symmetric layups and were loaded in tension at various angles to the 0-deg-ply direction. Stress-strain curves to specimen fracture were obtained. The analysis was performed using linear composite mechanics which includes residual stresses and a combined stress yield function. The results obtained indicate that angleplied boron/aluminum laminates exhibit a nonlinear stress-strain behavior to fracture. The residual stresses affect the initial and 'yield' laminate properties.

Chamis, C. C.

Theoretical and experimental investigation of the nonlinear behavior of angleplied boron/aluminum composites

Specimens from angleplied laminates of boron/aluminum composites were tested and the results analyzed. The specimens consisted of eight-ply symmetric layups and were loaded in tension at various angles to the 0 deg-ply direction. Stress-strain curves to specimen fracture were obtained. The analysis was performed using linear composite mechanics which includes residual stresses and a combined stress yield function. The results obtained indicate that angleplied boron/aluminum laminates exhibit a nonlinear stress-strain behavior to fracture. The residual stresses affect the initial and yield laminate properties. Linear composite mechanics is inadequate to predict the mechanical behavior of boron/aluminum angleplied laminates.

Chamis, C. C.

Some important aspects in testing high-modulus fiber composite tubes in axial tension.

Tubular specimens were potted in metal grips to determine the feasibility of this gripping method in applying multiaxial loads. Strain gage rosettes were used to assess grip transitional strains, through thickness strain variation, and strain variations along the tube length and circumference. The investigation was limited to loading graphite/epoxy and glass/epoxy tubes in axial tension. Results include modifications made to the grips to reduce transitional strains, illustrations of the tube failure modes, and some material properties. The gripping concept shows promise as a satisfactory technique for applying multiaxial loads to high-strength, high-modulus fiber composite tubes.

Sullivan, T. L.

Nonlinear response of boron/aluminum angleplied laminates under cyclic tensile loading: Contributing mechanisms and their effects

The nonlinear response of boron/aluminum angleplied laminates subjected to cyclic loads was investigated. A procedure is outlined and criteria are proposed which can be used to assess the nonlinear response. The procedure consists of testing strategically selected laminate configurations and analyzing the results using composite mechanics. Results from the investigation show the contributions to nonlinear behavior are from: premature random fiber breaks where the ply orientation angle is small relative to the load direction, ply relative rotation at intermediate values of the ply orientation angle, and nonlinear aluminum matrix behavior at large values of the orientation angle. Premature fiber breaks result in progressively more compliant material; large ply relative rotations result in progressively stiffer material; and pronounced matrix nonlinear behavior results in no significant change in the stiffness of the initial load portion.

Chamis, C. C.

Automated testing data reduction computer program.

The capability of a computer program which can be part of a larger computer program for a fully automated multiaxial testing facility is described. This computer program is designed to process test data from tubular or flat specimens made from isotropic or anisotropic materials including high modulus fiber composites. The program can receive data from a large number of strain gages and combinations of applied loads. Options are provided for single element, 90-degree, rectangular or Delta rosettes, or any combinations of these types of strain gages. Options are provided for strain gage transverse sensitivities. The program outputs include: structural axes strains and stresses, initial and strain dependent elastic constants, shift of principal strain direction with load, and local curvatures from back-to-back strain gages, and either calcomp or microfilm plots. The computer program is described with respect to its flow chart, input/output, embedment or linking with other programs and its possible utility in a fully automated testing system.

Chamis, C. C.