Continuum Mechanics Modelling of Fibre-Reinforced Polymer Composites

Multi-scale Continuum Mechanics Modelling of Fibre-Reinforced Polymer Composites provides a comprehensive and state-of-the-art review on the application and use of multiscale modeling to predict damage mechanisms in composite materials. Following a logical structure, the book is divided into three main parts, including (i) the "ingredients" necessary to start multi-scale modeling, (ii) nonlinear multi-scale modeling, and (iii) the laminate scale or macro-scale, where all multi-scale modeling tools are applied for the virtual testing of laminates (in static loading, but also sometimes for prediction of fatigue and effect of defects). As mentioned above, in all three parts, the main types of fiber reinforcements are covered (unidirectionally reinforced composites, textile composites and short fiber composites). The book's focus is always on physically sound damage modeling and continuum mechanics (no attention to special discrete methods or particle methods). Comprehensive overview on the modeling on all three important scales, including micro-scale, meso-scale and macro-scale Covers not only unidirectionally reinforced composites, but also textile composites, short fiber composites, and the geometrical modeling of their fiber reinforcement architecture Covers finite-element based techniques (which are computationally more demanding), analytical and quasi-analytical approaches (Mean Field Homogenization, Variational mechanics)

In this study, a technique has been proposed for developing constitive models for polymer composite systems reinforced with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT). Since the polymer molecules are on the same size scale as the nanotubes, the interaction at the polymer/nanotube interface is highly dependent on the local molecular structure and bonding. At these small length scales, the lattice structures of the nanotube and polymer chains cannot be be considered continuous, and the bulk mechanical properties of the SWNT/polymer composites can no longer be determined through traditional micromechanical approaches that are formulated using continuum mechanics. It is proposed herein that the nanotube, the local polymer near the nanotube, and the nanotube/polymer interface can be modeled as an effective continuum fiber using an equivalent-continuum modeling method.

This volume presents a collection of contributions on advanced approaches of continuum mechanics, which were written to celebrate the 60th birthday of Prof. Holm Altenbach. The contributions are on topics related to the theoretical foundations for the analysis of rods, shells and three-dimensional solids, formulation of constitutive models for advanced materials, as well as development of new approaches to the modeling of damage and fractures.

Advanced fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites have become essential materials for the building of new structures and for the repair of existing infrastructure. Advanced fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites for structural applications provides an overview of different advanced FRP composites and the use of these materials in a variety of application areas. Part one introduces materials used in the creation of advanced FRP composites including polyester, vinylester and epoxy resins. Part two goes on to explore the processing and fabrication of advanced FRP composites and includes chapters on prepreg processing and filament winding processes. Part three highlights properties of advanced FRP composites and explores how performance can be managed and tested. Applications of advanced FRP composites, including bridge engineering, pipe rehabilitation in the oil and gas industry and sustainable energy production, are discussed in part four. With its distinguished editor and international team of expert contributors, Advanced fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites for structural applications is a technical resource for researchers and engineers using advanced FRP composites, as well as professionals requiring an understanding of the production and properties of advanced FRP composites, and academics interested in this field. Provides an overview of different advanced FRP composites and the use of these materials in a variety of application areas Introduces materials used in the creation of advanced FRP composites including polyester, vinylester and epoxy resins Explores the processing and fabrication of advanced FRP composites and includes chapters on prepreg processing and filament winding processes

Volume is indexed by Thomson Reuters CPCI-S (WoS). These 379 peer-reviewed papers, presented in a two-volume set, cover the latest advances in nanocrystalline materials, thin films and chemical vapor deposition, biocomposites, ceramics technology, MEMS, coatings, nanopowders, fuel cells, etc.; together with their practical application.

Bringing together the world's leading researchers and practitioners of computational mechanics, these new volumes meet and build on the eight key challenges for research and development in computational mechanics. Researchers have recently identified eight critical research tasks facing the field of computational mechanics. These tasks have come about because it appears possible to reach a new level of mathematical modelling and numerical solution that will lead to a much deeper understanding of nature and to great improvements in engineering design. The eight tasks are: The automatic solution of mathematical models Effective numerical schemes for fluid flows The development of an effective mesh-free numerical solution method The development of numerical procedures for multiphysics problems The development of numerical procedures for multiscale problems The modelling of uncertainties The analysis of complete life cycles of systems Education - teaching sound engineering and scientific judgement Readers of Computational Fluid and Solid Mechanics 2003 will be able to apply the combined experience of many of the world's leading researchers to their own research needs. Those in academic environments will gain a better insight into the needs and constraints of the industries they are involved with; those in industry will gain a competitive advantage by gaining insight into the cutting edge research being carried out by colleagues in academia. Features Bridges the gap between academic researchers and practitioners in industry Outlines the eight main challenges facing Research and Design in Computational mechanics and offers new insights into the shifting the research agenda Provides a vision of how strong, basic and exciting education at university can be harmonized with life-long learning to obtain maximum value from the new powerful tools of analysis

In this study, a technique is presented for developing constitutive models for polymer composite systems reinforced with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT). Because the polymer molecules are on the same size scale as the nanotubes, the interaction at the polymer/nanotube interface is highly dependent on the local molecular structure and bonding. At these small length scales, the lattice structures of the nanotube and polymer chains cannot be considered continuous, and the bulk mechanical properties can no longer be determined through the traditional micromechanical approaches that are formulated by using continuum mechanics. It is proposed herein that the nanotube, the local polymer near the nanotube, and the nanotube/polymer interface can be modeled as an effective continuum fiber using an equivalent-continuum modeling method. The micromechanical analyses for the prediction of bulk mechanical properties of SWNT/polymer composites with various nanotube lengths, concentrations, and orientations. As an example, the proposed approach is used for the constitutive modeling of two SWNT/polyimide composite systems.

Book is organized around new experiments in and modeling of fatigue and its effects over a range of composite materials subjected to multiple mechanical and thermal stresses. An objective of the investigations discussed is to explain failure mechanisms and improve long-term loading prediction and performance. Chapters in the book are edited and refereed presentations made at the most recent ICFC5 conference, held in Nanjing, China.TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface •Fatigue Life Assessment via Ply-By-Ply Stress Analysis Under Biaxial Loading F. Schmidt, T. J. Adam and P. Horst •A Residual Stiffness—Residual Strength Coupled Model for Composite Laminate Under Fatigue Loading W. Lian •Damage in Thermoplastic Composite Structures: Application to High Pressure Hydrogen Storage Vessels C. Thomas, F. Nony, S. Villalonga and J. Renard •Cyclic Interlaminar Crack Growth in Unidirectional and Braided Composites S. Stelzer, G. Pinter, M. Wolfahrt, A. J. Brunner and J. Noisternig •Experimental Analysis and Modelling of Fatigue Behaviour of Thick Woven Laminated Composites P. Nimdum and J. Renard •Fatigue Behaviour of Woven Composite p Joint J. Zhang, Y. Fu, L. Zhao, X. Liang, H. Huang and B. Fei •Monotonic and Cyclic Deformation Behavior of Ultrasonically Welded Hybrid Joints Between Light Metals and Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRP) F. Balle and D. Eifler •Fatigue-Driven Residual Life Models Based on Controlling Fatigue Stress and Strain in Carbon Fibre/Epoxy Composites J. J. Xiong, J. B. Bai and C. Y. Luo •An Energy-Based Fatigue Approach for Composites Combining Failure Mechanisms, Strength and Stiffness Degradation H. Krüger, R. Rolfes and E. Jansen •Fatigue Life Prediction Of Off-Axis Unidirectional Laminate F. WU and W.-X. YAO •Thermal Fatigue of AX41 Magnesium Alloy Based Composite Studied Using Thermal Expansivity Measurements Z. Drozd, Z. Trojanová and P. Lukáč •Fabrication of TI/APC-2 Nanocomposite Laminates and Their Fatigue Response at Elevated Temperature M.-H. R. Jen, C.-K. Chang, Y.-C. Sung and F.-C. Hsu •Fatigue and Fracture of Elastomeric Matrix Nanocomposites C. Bathias and S. Dong •Fatigue Delamination of Carbon Fiber Fabrics Reinforced PPS Laminates J. Bassery and J. Renard •Damage Mechanism and Fatigue Behaviour of Uniaxially and Sequentially Loaded Wound Tube Specimens F. Schmidt and P. Horst •Influence of Thermal and Mechanical Cycles on the Damping Behaviour of Mg Based-Nanocomposite Z. Trojanová, A. Makowska-Mielczarek, W. Riehemann and P. Lukáč •Delamination Detection in CFRP Laminates Using A0 and S0 Lamb Wave Modes N. Hu, Y.-L. Liu, H. Fukunaga and Y. Li •Calorimetric Analysis of Dissipative Effects Associated with the Fatigue of GFRP Composites H. Sawadogo, S. Panier and S. Hariri •Correlation Between Crack Propagation Rate and Cure Process of Epoxy Resins V. Trappe, S. Günzel and M. Jaunich Author Index

Science and Engineering of Short Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composites, Second Edition, provides the latest information on the ‘short fiber reinforced composites' (SFRP) that have found extensive applications in automobiles, business machines, durable consumer items, sporting goods and electrical industries due to their low cost, easy processing and superior mechanical properties over parent polymers. This updated edition presents new developments in this field of research and includes new chapters on electrical conductivity, structural monitoring, functional properties, self-healing, finite element method techniques, multi-scale SFRCs, and both modern computational and process engineering methods. Reviews the mechanical properties and functions of short fiber reinforced polymer composites (SFRP) Examines recent developments in the fundamental mechanisms of SFRP's Assesses major factors affecting mechanical performance, such as stress transfer and strength Includes new chapters on electrical conductivity, structural monitoring, functional properties, self-healing, finite element method techniques, multi-scale SFRCs, modern computational methods, and process engineering methods

Fiber reinforced polymer composites are an extremely broad and versatile class of material.Their high strength coupled with lightweight leads to their use wherever structural efficiency is at a premium. Applications can be found in aircraft, process plants, sporting goods and military equipment. However they are heterogeneous in construction and antisotropic, which makes making strength prediction extremely difficult especially compared to that of a metal. This book brings together the results of a 12year worldwide failure exercise encompassing 19 theories in a single volume. Each contributor describes their own theory and employs it to solve 14 challenging problems. The accuracy of predictions and the performance of the theories are assessed and recommendations made on the uses of the theories in engineering design. All the necessary information is provided for the methodology to be readily employed for validating and benchmarking new theories as they emerge. Brings together 19 failure theories, with many application examples. Compares the leading failure theories with one another and with experimental data Failure to apply these theories could result in potentially unsafe designs or over design.

Computational Modeling of Polymer Composites: A Study of Creep and Environmental Effects details the development of polymeric materials and their use in smart materials and composite structures in aerospace and automotive industries. Based on the authors' work during the past 30 years, this book provides a strong understanding of the theories and associated finite element life-prediction models for elastic and viscoelastic response of polymers and polymer composites in aggressive environments. The subject is an interdisciplinary one where chemists, material scientists, and chemical, mechanical, and structural engineers contribute to the overall product. Books on polymer composites are usually of three types: material science, mechanics, and computational. This book combines mechanics of materials with the computational element. The authors suggest an introductory course on mechanics of materials to cover all bases. The book begins with mathematical preliminaries, equations of anisotropic elasticity, virtual work principles, and variational methods. It provides an introduction to the finite element method and finite element analysis of viscoelastic materials, and then moves on to the solvent diffusion process in polymers and polymeric composites, as well as the linear and nonlinear viscoelastic models and the implementation of finite element models of viscoelastic materials. Computational Modeling of Polymer Composites: A Study of Creep and Environmental Effects delves into both uniaxial and multiaxial cases and delayed failure before discussing the finite element analysis of the nonlinear diffusion process in polymers. It also includes non-Fickean diffusion of polymers, the coupled hygrothermal cohesive layer model for simulating debond growth in bimaterial interfaces, and the viscoelastic cohesive layer model for the prediction of interlaminar shear strength of carbon/epoxy composites. The final chapter covers a multi-scale viscoelastic cohesive layer model for predicting delamination in high temperature polymer composites. This book can be used as a reference or as a graduate course textbook on theory and/or finite element analysis of polymers and polymeric composites.

Contains 16 original papers on the processing and manufacturing of thermoset and thermoplastic composites. In this book, nine chapters cover modeling and process parameters for many shapes of thermosets using RTM, VARTM and CRTM.

The huge consumption of earth’s natural resources and the reliance on industrial manufactured products have produced significant impacts on the environment. As such, new strategies must be adopted in order to support the protection and continued development of numerous natural resources. Mechanical Properties of Natural Fiber Reinforced Polymers: Emerging Research and Opportunities is a critical scholarly resource that examines green energy sources and material enhancements that will help to solve ecological problems. Featuring coverage on a broad range of topics, such as harvesting techniques, origins of natural fibers, and modeling for textile composites, this book is geared towards engineers, researchers, scholars, and graduate students in the fields of materials science and engineering.

Proceedings of the IUTAM-ISIMM Symposium, held in Nottingham, U.K., 30 August--3 September 1994

The book presents a state-of-the-art overview of the fundamental theories, established models and ongoing research related to the modeling of these materials. Two approaches are conventionally used to develop constitutive relations for highly deformable fibrous materials. According to the phenomenological approach, a strain energy density function can be defined in terms of strain invariants. The other approach is based on kinetic theories, which treats a fibrous material as a randomly oriented inter-tangled network of long molecular chains bridged by permanent and temporary junctions. At the micro-level, these are associated with chemical crosslinks and active entanglements, respectively. The papers include carefully crafted overviews of the fundamental formulation of the three-dimensional theory from several points of view, and address their equivalences and differences. Also included are solutions to boundary-value problems which are amenable to experimental verification. A further aspect is the elasticity of filaments, stability of equilibrium and thermodynamics of the molecular network theory.

Modelling of Damage Processes in Biocomposites, Fibre-Reinforced Composites and Hybrid Composites focuses on the advanced characterization techniques used for the analysis of composite materials developed from natural fiber/biomass, synthetic fibers and a combination of these materials used as fillers and reinforcements to enhance materials performance and utilization in automotive, aerospace, construction and building components. It will act as a detailed reference resource to encourage future research in natural fiber and hybrid composite materials, an area much in demand due to the need for more sustainable, recyclable, and eco-friendly composites in a broad range of applications. Written by leading experts in the field, and covering composite materials developed from different natural fibers and their hybridization with synthetic fibers, the book's chapters provide cutting-edge, up-to-date research on the characterization, analysis and modelling of composite materials. Contains contributions from leading experts in the field Discusses recent progress on failure analysis, SHM, durability, life prediction and the modelling of damage in natural fiber-based composite materials Covers experimental, analytical and numerical analysis Provides detailed and comprehensive information on mechanical properties, testing methods and modelling techniques