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At least 1,045 records · Page 58

The elastic and yield behavior of polyethylene tubes subjected to biaxial loadings

The elastic and yield response of extruded thin-walled high-density polyethylene tubes with a density in the range of 0.961 to 0.964 gm/cu cm was investigated. Material properties in the axial and hoop directions were measured, and the tubes were found to be mildly transversely isotropic. The yield response was pressure sensitive, and was well predicted using the pressure-modified Hill criterion using a compressive to tensile yield strength ratio of 1:12.

Tuttle, M. E.↗

Evaluation of the mechanical properties and damage tolerance of five new toughened matrix composite materials

Notched and unnotched tension and compression properties of quasi-isotropic laminates are presently evaluated, in conjunction with compression-after-impact (CAI) strengths, for the cases of five different carbon fiber-reinforced/toughened matrix composites. For a given impact energy, CAIs were dependent on impact velocities. When compared with other matrix-toughened materials, the five presently considered were more damage-tolerant than such aircraft primary structure composite systems as T300/5208.

Cano, Roberto J.↗

Influence of local fiber undulations on the global buckling behavior of filament-wound cylinders

The predicted compressive stiffness and buckling strength of filament-wound cylinders using classical lamination theory is significantly higher than those observed experimentally. This discrepancy is partially influenced by the variation of mechanical properties in the region of fiber undulations. These regions are localized geometric defects intrinsic to the filament-winding, weaving, and braiding processes. In the present work, the average mechanical properties of the fiber undulation region are quantified using modified models of woven-fabric composites to account for the 3-dimensional effects. The mechanical properties thus determined can be incorporated as local element properties into global finite-element models. Preliminary results from large-displacement analyses of filament-wound cylinders are relatively more accurate when fiber undulations are accounted for.

Jensen, D. W.↗

Damage tolerance of candidate thermoset composites for use on single stage to orbit vehicles

Four fiber/resin systems were compared for resistance to damage and damage tolerance. One toughened epoxy and three toughened bismaleimide (BMI) resins were used, all with IM7 carbon fiber reinforcement. A statistical design of experiments technique was used to evaluate the effects of impact energy, specimen thickness, and impactor diameter on the damage area, as computed by C-scans, and residual compression-after-impact (CAI) strength. Results showed that two of the BMI systems sustained relatively large damage zones yet had an excellent retention of CAI strength.

Nettles, A. T.↗

Construction material processed using lunar simulant in various environments

The manufacture of construction materials from locally available resources in space is an important first step in the establishment of lunar and planetary bases. The objective of the CoMPULSIVE (Construction Material Processed Using Lunar Simulant In Various Environments) experiment is to develop a procedure to produce construction materials by sintering or melting Johnson Space Center Simulant 1 (JSC-1) lunar soil simulant in both earth-based (1-g) and microgravity (approximately 0-g) environments. The characteristics of the resultant materials will be tested to determine its physical and mechanical properties. The physical characteristics include: crystalline, thermal, and electrical properties. The mechanical properties include: compressive tensile, and flexural strengths. The simulant, placed in a sealed graphite crucible, will be heated using a high temperature furnace. The crucible will then be cooled by radiative and forced convective means. The core furnace element consists of space qualified quartz-halogen incandescent lamps with focusing mirrors. Sample temperatures of up to 2200 C are attainable using this heating method.

Chase, Stan↗

Effects of stitching on fracture toughness of uniweave textile graphite/epoxy laminates

The effects of through-the-thickness stitching on impact damage resistance, impact damage tolerance, and Mode 1 and Mode 2 fracture toughness of textile graphite/epoxy laminates were studied experimentally. Graphite/epoxy laminates were fabricated from AS4 graphite uniweave textiles and 3501-6 epoxy using Resin Transfer Molding. The cloths were stitched with Kevlar(tm) and glass yarns before resin infusion. Delamination was implanted during processing to simulate impact damage. Sublaminate buckling tests were performed in a novel fixture to measure Compression After Impact (CAI) strength of stitched laminates. The results show that CAI strength can be improved up to 400% by through-the-thickness stitching. Double Cantilever Beam tests were performed to study the effect of stitching on Mode 1 fracture toughness G(sub 1c). It was found that G(sub 1c) increased 30 times for a low stitching density of 16 stitches/sq in. Mode 2 fracture toughness was measured by testing the stitched beams in End Notch Flexure tests. Unlike in the unstitiched beams, crack propagation in the stitched beams was steady. The current formulas for ENF tests were not found suitable for determining G(sub 2C) for stitched beams. Hence two new methods were developed - one based on crack area measured from ultrasonic C-scanning and the other based on equivalent crack area measured from the residual stiffness of the specimen. The G(sub 2c) was found to be at least 5-15 times higher for the stitched laminates. The mechanisms by which stitching increases the CAI strength and fracture toughness are discussed.

Sankar, Bhavani V.↗

Impact Characteristics of Candidate Materials for Single-Stage-to-Orbit (SSTO) Technology

Four fiber/resin systems were compared for resistance to damage and damage tolerance. One toughened epoxy and three toughened bismaleimide (BMI) resins were used., all with IM7 carbon fiber reinforcement. A statistical design of experiments technique was used to evaluate the effects of impact energy, specimen thickness and tup diameter on the damage area and residual compression-after-impact (CAI) strength. Results showed that two of the BMI systems sustained relatively large damage areas yet had an excellent retention of CAI strength.

Nettles, Alan↗

Simplification of Fatigue Test Requirements for Damage Tolerance of Composite Interstage Launch Vehicle Hardware

The issue of fatigue loading of structures composed of composite materials is considered in a requirements document that is currently in place for manned launch vehicles. By taking into account the short life of these parts, coupled with design considerations, it is demonstrated that the necessary coupon level fatigue data collapse to a static case. Data from a literature review of past studies that examined compressive fatigue loading after impact and data generated from this experimental study are presented to support this finding. Damage growth, in the form of infrared thermography, was difficult to detect due to rapid degradation of compressive properties once damage growth initiated. Unrealistically high fatigue amplitudes were needed to fail 5 of 15 specimens before 10,000 cycles were reached. Since a typical vehicle structure, such as the Ares I interstage, only experiences a few cycles near limit load, it is concluded that static compression after impact (CAI) strength data will suffice for most launch vehicle structures.

Nettles, A. T.↗

Damage Tolerance Comparison of IM7/8552 and T1100/3960 Carbon Fiber/Epoxy Sandwich Structure in Support of the Space Launch System Payload Adapter Fitting

As technology evolves and improves within the science of composite materials, new fiber/ resin systems are being developed for improved properties given certain loading and environmental scenarios. Improving the room temperature damage tolerance capabilities has long been one of the goals in the carbon fiber/polymer composite industry. Recently a new fiber/epoxy system has been introduced that is claimed to have superior damage tolerance capabilities. To examine if this new carbon fiber/epoxy composite material would be of benefit to a program to manufacture a Payload Adapter Fitting (PAF) for NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, the question was asked as to just how much damage tolerance could be realized if this new system were used. Compression after impact (CAI) strength of sandwich structure is one of the leading metrics being used to evaluate materials for the PAF program. As a result, a comparison of this new fiber/resin system with a very common (and planned baseline) fiber/resin system with respect to CAI was considered in this study. While it was already known that the older, baseline carbon fiber structure would not have as good damage tolerance characteristics as the newer carbon fiber system, the quantitative difference in damage tolerance was sought in this study since no other CAI data could be found in open literature on sandwich structures made with this new fiber/resin system.

A.T. Nettles↗

Baseline Graphite Characterization

Baseline Graphite Characterization: Purpose of Baseline, Mechanical Baseline Tests, Physical Properties Tests, Methodology, Baseline progress, Density, Ultimate Tensile Strength, PCEA Ultimate Tensile Strength, Split Disc Tests, Compression Tests, Flexural Tests, and Coefficient of Thermal Expansion.

22 - GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

A study of reduced chromium content in a nickel-base superalloy via element substitution and rapid solidification processing

A study of reduced chromium content in a nickel base superalloy via element substitution and rapid solidification processing was performed. The two elements used as partial substitutes for chromium were Si and Zr. The microstructure of conventionally solidified materials was characterized using microscopy techniques. These alloys were rapidly solidified using the chill block melt spinning technique and the rapidly solidified microstructures were characterized using electron microscopy. The spinning technique and the rapidly solidified microstructures was assessed following heat treatments at 1033 and 1272 K. Rapidly solidified material of three alloys was reduced to particulate form and consolidated using hot isostatic pressing (HIP). The consolidated materials were also characterized using microscopy techniques. In order to evaluate the relative strengths of the consolidated alloys, compression tests were performed at room temperature and 1033 K on samples of as-HIPed and HIPed plus solution treated material. Yield strength, porosity, and oxidation resistance characteristics are given and compared.

Powers, William O.↗

Deformation Mechanism Map of Cu/Nb Nanoscale Metallic Multilayers as a Function of Temperature and Layer Thickness

The mechanical properties and deformation mechanisms of Cu/Nb nanoscale metallic multilayers (NMMs) manufactured by accumulative roll bonding are studied at 25°C and 400°C. Cu/Nb NMMs with individual layer thicknesses between 7 nm and 63 nm were tested by in situ micropillar compression inside a scanning electron microscope. Yield strength, strain-rate sensitivities and activation volumes were obtained from the pillar compression tests. The deformed micropillars were examined under scanning and transmission electron microscopy in order to examine the deformation mechanisms active for different layer thicknesses and temperatures. The paper suggests that room temperature deformation was determined by dislocation glide at larger layer thicknesses and interface-related mechanisms at the thinner layer thicknesses. The high-temperature compression tests, in contrast, revealed superior thermo-mechanical stability and strength retention for the NMMs with larger layer thicknesses with deformation controlled by dislocation glide. A remarkable transition in deformation mechanism occurred as the layer thickness decreased, to a deformation response controlled by diffusion processes along the interfaces, which resulted in temperature-induced softening. Finally, a deformation mechanism map, in terms of layer thickness and temperature, is proposed from the results obtained in this investigation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Deformation Behavior and Microstructural Evolution of Reeled Pipeline Steels during Cyclic Plastic Deformation

API X60 steel used for reeled pipeline was subjected to different amounts of cyclic plastic deformation (CPD) by multiple tension–compression tests in order to study the deformation behavior and microstructural evolution during each stage of reel-lay installation process. It was found that the yield strength was significantly reduced by about 110 MPa during the first CPD cycle due to the Bauschinger effect. However, the yield strength was little affected by the subsequent CPD cycles, and the yield strength difference between tension and compression tended to reach a steady-state value of 23 MPa after multiple CPD cycles. With the increase in CPD cycles, the proportion of low-angle grain boundaries declined from 50.9 to 35.7%, and the CPD contributed to the formation of immovable dislocation walls and cells due to the dislocation rearrangement, causing the stable yield strength. The CPD process with strain level of 3% had no prominent effect on the tensile strength and elongation, because the change in microstructures was not enough to alter the work hardening completely after multiple CPD cycles.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Structural efficiencies of various aluminum, titanium, and steel alloys at elevated temperatures

Efficient temperature ranges are indicated for two high-strength aluminum alloys, two titanium alloys, and three steels for some short-time compression-loading applications at elevated temperatures. Only the effects of constant temperatures and short exposure to temperature are considered, and creep is assumed not to be a factor. The structural efficiency analysis is based upon preliminary results of short-time elevated-temperature compressive stress-strain tests of the materials. The analysis covers strength under uniaxial compression, elastic stiffness, column buckling, and the buckling of long plates in compression or in shear.

COLUMNS, STRUCTURAL↗

Analytical structural efficiency studies of borsic/aluminum compression panels

Analytically determined mass-strength curves, strain-strength curves, and dimensions are presented for structurally efficient hat-stiffened panels, corrugation-stiffened panels, hat-stiffened honeycomb-core sandwich panels, open-section corrugation panels, and honeycomb-core sandwich panels. The panels were assumed to be fabricated from either titanium, borsic/aluminum, or a combination of these materials. Borsic/aluminum panels and titanium panels reinforced with borsic/aluminum were lighter and stiffer than comparably designed titanium panels. Reinforced titanium panels had the same extensional stiffness as comparably designed Borsic/aluminum panels. For a given load, the structural efficiency of the hat-stiffened honeycomb-core sandwich panel was higher than the structural efficiency of the other stiffened panels.

Mcwithey, R. R.↗

Review of Size Effects during Micropillar Compression Test: Experiments and Atomistic Simulations

The micropillar compression test is a novel experiment to study the mechanical properties of materials at small length scales of micro and nano. The results of the micropillar compression experiments show that the strength of the material depends on the pillar diameter, which is commonly termed as size effects. In the current work, first, the experimental observations and theoretical models of size effects during micropillar compression tests are reviewed in the case of crystalline metals. In the next step, the recent computer simulations using molecular dynamics are reviewed as a powerful tool to investigate the micropillar compression experiment and its governing mechanisms of size effects.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

High strain-rate strength response of single crystal tantalum through in-situ hole closure imaging experiments

The properties of crystalline materials often depend on directionality and operating conditions. Specifically, the strength of materials can depend anisotropically on crystal direction and the loading condition. To probe these effects, a preliminary series of high strain-rate (> 105/s) strength plate-impact hole closure experiments were performed on high purity single crystal Tantalum cubes. The orientation of the single crystals with respect to impact/loading were varied to provide data to inform crystal plasticity modeling efforts. The experiments consist of in-situ high-resolution X-ray radiographic imaging of the hole collapse under dynamic compression conditions to infer the material strength via its resistance to closure at increasing levels of plastic strain. The experiments are compared against hydrocode simulation predictions. Here, a comparison with simple elastic perfectly plastic strength model predictions is presented to elucidate the response of the different crystal orientations at high strain-rate and large plastic strains.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗