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Fixture for flexural tests of glass-fiber-reinforced epoxy rods 1/4 in. (6.4 mm) in diameter easy to fabricate. Little machining done by relatively unskilled. Flexural-test fixture allows bending stress applied to specimen rod while holding rod securely. Dowel pins, blocks, and plate that make up fixture joined by adhesive.
Modified die set improves accuracy in load application, minimizes problems of parallelism, and eliminates testing errors normally encountered during flexure tests. Test results are given for a comparison test of the old and new fixtures.
Cryostat with support structure for test specimen allows flexure fatigue testing of honeycomb composite sandwich structures at cryogenic temperatures. The cryostat consists of a cryogen container enclosing two pairs of yokes which support two rotating end clamps.
Improved flexure test yields data on ply strength of off-axis unidirectional composite material. Rotatable end supports allow ends of specimen to twist freely. End supports apply only vertical loads, making simple three-point bending test. Ply-strength data provide basis for predicting onset of damage in composite structures and serve as measure of fiber-matrix adhesion.
An off-axis flexure (OAF) test was performed to measure ply strength under multiaxial stress states. This test involves unidirectional off-axis specimens loaded in bending, using an apparatus that allows these anisotropic specimens to twist as well as flex without the complications of a resisting torque. A 3D finite element stress analysis verified that simple beam theory could be used to compute the specimen bending stresses at failure. Unidirectional graphite/epoxy specimens with fiber angles ranging from 90 deg to 15 deg have combined normal and shear stresses on their failure planes that are typical of 45 deg plies in structural laminates. Tests for a range of stress states with AS4/3501-6 specimens showed that both normal and shear stresses on the failure plane influenced cracking resistance. This OAF test may prove to be useful for generating data needed to predict ply cracking in composite structures and may also provide an approach for studying fiber-matrix interface failures under stress states typical of structures.
The usefulness of the end-notched flexure (ENF) test for measuring G(IIc) for toughened composites was evaluated. Calculations were made using the measured flexural compliance from the ENF test and the measured axial modulus. Tests were conducted on three different composite materials, using laminates with two different span lengths and insert sizes. The error associated with neglecting nonlinear terms in the displacement-curvature relationship was analyzed to demonstrate the influence of specimen geometry on G(IIc) measurement. It is concluded that G(IIc) measurement may vary with the method of calculation, span length, or insert thickness, but these effects are minor compared to the large differences in measurements obtained for different materials. Hence, the ENF test is a valid one for screening materials for improvements in interlaminar shear fracture toughness.
The transverse tension fatigue life of S2/8552 glass-epoxy and IM7/8552 carbon-epoxy was characterized using flexure tests of 90-degree laminates loaded in 3-point and 4-point bending. The influence of specimen polishing and specimen configuration on transverse tension fatigue life was examined using the glass-epoxy laminates. Results showed that 90-degree bend specimens with polished machined edges and polished tension-side surfaces, where bending failures where observed, had lower fatigue lives than unpolished specimens when cyclically loaded at equal stress levels. The influence of specimen thickness and the utility of a Weibull scaling law was examined using the carbon-epoxy laminates. The influence of test frequency on fatigue results was also documented for the 4-point bending configuration. A Weibull scaling law was used to predict the 4-point bending fatigue lives from the 3-point bending curve fit and vice-versa. Scaling was performed based on maximum cyclic stress level as well as fatigue life. The scaling laws based on stress level shifted the curve fit S-N characterizations in the desired direction, however, the magnitude of the shift was not adequate to accurately predict the fatigue lives. Furthermore, the scaling law based on fatigue life shifted the curve fit S-N characterizations in the opposite direction from measured values. Therefore, these scaling laws were not adequate for obtaining accurate predictions of the transverse tension fatigue lives.
Device tests electric continuity of flat cable conductors, FCC, in temperature controlled environment. Test method is described.
Abstract Due to their superior high-temperature thermomechanical capabilities, sputter erosion durability, and excellent resistance to hydrogen isotopes, tungsten materials have garnered significant interest in fusion nuclear applications. However, low room-temperature ductility and complex machining strategies present significant challenges for traditional fabrication. Electron beam powder bed fusion (EB-PBF) shows promise in manufacturing pure tungsten via high thermal energy input, elevated build temperature, and a tightly controlled high-vacuum environment. This work explores the process, structure, and property relationship of pure tungsten fabricated by EB-PBF, where 99.8% relative density was achieved with reduced cracking by isolating the build substrate and optimizing the print parameter suite. Optical and electron imaging revealed that the microstructure contained equiaxed grains along the build direction, with subgrains present in all inspected grains. Flexural testing at ambient and elevated temperatures demonstrated high ductility at 900°C and flexural strength of 470 MPa at room temperature of additively manufactured tungsten.
The critical strain energy release rates associated with debonding of the adhesive bondlines in graphite/epoxy IM6/3501-6 interlaminar fracture specimens were investigated. Two panels were manufactured for this investigation; however, panel two was layed-up incorrectly. As a result, data collected from Panel Two serves no real purpose in this investigation. Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) specimens were used to determine the opening Mode I interlaminar fracture toughness, G1(sub c), of uni-directional fiber re-inforced composites. The five specimens tested from Panel One had an average value of 946.42J/sq m for G1(sub c) with an acceptable coefficient of variation. The critical strain energy release rate, G2(sub c), for initiation of delamination under inplane shear loading was investigated using the End-Notched Flexure (ENF) Test. Four specimens were tested from Panel One and an average value of 584.98J/sq m for G2(sub c) was calculated. Calculations from the DCB and ENF test results for Panel One represent typical values of G1(sub c) and G2(sub c) for the adhesive debonding in the material studied in this investigation.
The four-point bend test is one of the simplest and often the preferred flexural strength evaluation method for brittle materials. In this loading mode, fracture often initiates from a critical surface (or subsurface) flaw when subjected to a tensile stress state. However, if the critical flaw exists on the compression side of the test specimen, it may not activate to grow a crack and hence the resulting flexural strength will be higher than the true value. The goal of this study is to measure the true flexural strength of a solid or hollow cylindrical brittle specimen by ensuring that failure occurs at its weakest point by rotating along its longitudinal axis, thereby exposing and activating its critical surface flaw during a four-point bend test. A novel test fixture has been designed and fabricated, and the true flexural strengths of cylindrical brittle and quasi-brittle tubular specimens have been measured and compared to existing experimental data obtained through traditional four-point bend tests. In this work, experimental results showcase the orientation dependance on flexural strength for various materials. Additionally, similarities between experimental findings and those available in literature, including observations of fracture surfaces and relationships between surface roughness and material strength, are discussed.
To date, the effect of thermo-oxidative aging on unidirectional composite mechanical properties has been monitored by the measurement of interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and either three or four point longitudinal flexural strength (LFS) of the composites being tested. Both results are affected by the fiber-to-matrix bonding, the former being dependent on the shear resistance of the interface and the latter on the degree of load sharing by the fibers through the fiber/matrix interface. Recently, fiber/matrix interfacial bond strengths have been monitored using a transverse flexural strength (TFS) test method. This test method was used to evaluate the effect of fiber surface treatment on the fiber/matrix bond. The interface bonding was varied in these tests using Hercules A-fibers with three-types of surfaces that produce bonds of poor, better, and good quality. The TFS was found not only to be sensitive to the bonding, but also to the aging time of unidirectional A-fiber/PMR-15 composites. This relationship reflects the mechanism by which the PMR-15 degrades during thermal aging.
To date, the effect of thermo-oxidative aging on unidirectional composite mechanical properties has been monitored by the measurement of interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and either three or four point longitudinal flexural strength (LFS) of the composites being tested. Both results are affected by the fiber-to-matrix bonding, the former being dependent on the shear resistance of the interface and the latter on the degree of load sharing by the fibers through the fiber/matrix interface. Recently, fiber/matrix interfacial bond strengths have been monitored using a transverse flexural strength (TFS) test method. This test method was used to evaluate the effect of fiber surface treatment on the fiber/matrix.
Metal oxide dopants, such as titanium and chromium oxides, have garnered considerable attention for their potential to increase grain size (≥ 30 µm) in UO 2 fuel, purportedly enhancing fission gas retention during reactor operation. Fuel performance is significantly impacted by fuel fracture behavior, so it is important to understand the effects of enhanced grain size and dopant content on UO 2 fuel fracture. UO 2 pellets were doped with 0.1 wt% TiO 2 and 0.3 wt% Cr 2 O 3 to alter density and grain size. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy measured dopant levels pre- and post-sintering. X-ray diffraction revealed lattice changes and microstrain via Rietveld refinement. Field emission scanning electron microscopy determined grain sizes of approximately 30 µm for TiO 2 doping and 7 µm for Cr 2 O 3 doping. Transverse rupture strength tests were performed on over 30 samples per dataset to obtain characteristic strength and Weibull modulus. Results indicate no statistical difference in fracture strength between 0.1 wt% TiO 2 doped UO 2 and undoped UO 2 , while 0.3 wt% Cr 2 O 3 doped UO 2 exhibited a 20% decrease in fracture strength. Doped UO 2 samples also showed reduced Weibull modulus compared to undoped UO 2 , suggesting increased scatter in fracture strength. This study's findings suggest that titanium and chromium oxide doping in UO 2 , regardless of grain size, induce residual stresses, decreasing fracture strength and increasing variability in fracture behavior.
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The error associated with strength measurements made with fixed-roller and V-grooved roller figures was studied with a variety of roller and figure material combinations. Both the fixed-roller and the V-grooved fixtures yielded an error in stress of about 4 to 7%. They also exhibited an appreciable amount of load strain hysteresis. Dynamic fatigue testing of 96 wt.% alumina verified the error: the fatigue strength was overestimated by 7 to 9% for the fixed roller configuration. The source of error is exclusively attributed to friction between the rollers and the specimen surface, as verified by previous investigators.
Finite element (FE) analysis was performed on 3-point and 4-point bending test configurations of ninety degree oriented glass-epoxy and graphite-epoxy composite beams to identify deviations from beam theory predictions. Both linear and geometric non-linear analyses were performed using the ABAQUS finite element code. The 3-point and 4-point bending specimens were first modeled with two-dimensional elements. Three-dimensional finite element models were then performed for selected 4-point bending configurations to study the stress distribution across the width of the specimens and compare the results to the stresses computed from two-dimensional plane strain and plane stress analyses and the stresses from beam theory. Stresses for all configurations were analyzed at load levels corresponding to the measured transverse tensile strength of the material.
In this paper we present an approach for selectively modifying the properties of semicrystalline polymers by introducing “bioadvantaged” counits. With this approach, the unique functionality of biomass can be leveraged to tailor the properties of the amorphous phase of semicrystalline polymers with minimal impact on crystallinity and thermomechanical properties. As a model case, PA 6,6 copolyamides were produced using the bioadvantaged monomer trans-3-hexenedioic acid (t3HDA). The analogous structure of t3HDA to adipic acid, a PA 6,6 monomer, allows for seamless integration. Screening over the entire composition range identified the t3HDA loading (20 mol%) beyond which properties deviate appreciably from Nylon 6,6. Once identified, copolyamides of suitable compositions were upgraded to commercial quality and fully characterized to assess the influence of counit loading and polymer structure on thermal and mechanical properties. Samples were characterized using gel permeation chromatography (GPC), proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR), heteronuclear single quantum coherence spectroscopy (HSQC), wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), tensile testing, flexural testing, and water absorption testing. t3HDA units were shown to hydrate during the harsh polycondensation to 3-hydroxyhexanedioic acid (3HHDA) and fully incorporate into the polymer backbone. Loading levels up to 20% were shown to have comparable thermal and mechanical properties in the dry state, yet moisture absorption—a known method for improving the toughness, yield strain, and elongation of polyamides—was enhanced by over 100% at 20% loading. This case study on bioadvantaged copolymers elucidates the governing structure-function principles that can be leveraged to forward value-added renewable polymers.