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Title: Investigating Fracture Behaviors of Polymer and Polymeric Composite Materials Using Spiral Notch Torsion Test

Abstract

Wind turbine blades are usually fabricated from fiber reinforced polymeric (FRP) materials, which are subject to complex loading conditions during service. The reliability of the blades thus depends on the mechanical behaviors of the FRP under various loading conditions. Specifically, the fracture behavior of FRP is of great importance to both the scientific research community and the wind industry. In the current project, a new testing technique is proposed based on the spiral notch torsion test (SNTT) to study the fracture behavior of composite structures under mixed mode loading conditions, particularly under combined Mode I (flexural or normal tensile stress) and Mode III (torsional shear stress) loading. For the SNTT test method, round-rod specimens with V-grooved spiral lines are subjected to pure torsion. Depending on the pitch angle of the spiral lines, pure Mode I, pure Mode III, or mixed Mode I/Mode III loading conditions can be simulated. A three dimensional finite element analysis is then used to evaluate the fracture toughness and energy release rate of SNTT specimens. In the current study, both epoxy and fiberglass reinforced epoxy materials are investigated using the SNTT technique. This paper will discuss the fracture behaviors of mode I and mixed mode samples,more » with or without fatigue precrack. In addition, results from fractographic study and finite element analysis will be presented and discussed in detail.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [4]
  1. ORNL
  2. Montana State University
  3. Gougeon Brothers, Inc.
  4. Molded Fiber Glass Companies
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). High Temperature Materials Lab. (HTML)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
OSTI Identifier:
1040742
DOE Contract Number:  
DE-AC05-00OR22725
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Engineering Fracture Mechanics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Name: Engineering Fracture Mechanics; Journal ID: ISSN 0013-7944
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
17 WIND ENERGY; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; COMPOSITE MATERIALS; FIBERGLASS; FIBERS; FRACTURE PROPERTIES; FRACTURES; INCLINATION; POLYMERS; RELIABILITY; SHEAR; TESTING; TORSION; WIND TURBINES; Spiral notch torsion test; wind turbine blades; polymeric composites; fracture; mixed mode

Citation Formats

Wang, Jy-An John, Ren, Fei, Tan, Ting, Lara-Curzio, Edgar, Agastra, Pancasatya, Mandell, John, Bertelsen, Williams D., and LaFrance, Carl M. Investigating Fracture Behaviors of Polymer and Polymeric Composite Materials Using Spiral Notch Torsion Test. United States: N. p., 2011. Web.
Wang, Jy-An John, Ren, Fei, Tan, Ting, Lara-Curzio, Edgar, Agastra, Pancasatya, Mandell, John, Bertelsen, Williams D., & LaFrance, Carl M. Investigating Fracture Behaviors of Polymer and Polymeric Composite Materials Using Spiral Notch Torsion Test. United States.
Wang, Jy-An John, Ren, Fei, Tan, Ting, Lara-Curzio, Edgar, Agastra, Pancasatya, Mandell, John, Bertelsen, Williams D., and LaFrance, Carl M. 2011. "Investigating Fracture Behaviors of Polymer and Polymeric Composite Materials Using Spiral Notch Torsion Test". United States.
@article{osti_1040742,
title = {Investigating Fracture Behaviors of Polymer and Polymeric Composite Materials Using Spiral Notch Torsion Test},
author = {Wang, Jy-An John and Ren, Fei and Tan, Ting and Lara-Curzio, Edgar and Agastra, Pancasatya and Mandell, John and Bertelsen, Williams D. and LaFrance, Carl M.},
abstractNote = {Wind turbine blades are usually fabricated from fiber reinforced polymeric (FRP) materials, which are subject to complex loading conditions during service. The reliability of the blades thus depends on the mechanical behaviors of the FRP under various loading conditions. Specifically, the fracture behavior of FRP is of great importance to both the scientific research community and the wind industry. In the current project, a new testing technique is proposed based on the spiral notch torsion test (SNTT) to study the fracture behavior of composite structures under mixed mode loading conditions, particularly under combined Mode I (flexural or normal tensile stress) and Mode III (torsional shear stress) loading. For the SNTT test method, round-rod specimens with V-grooved spiral lines are subjected to pure torsion. Depending on the pitch angle of the spiral lines, pure Mode I, pure Mode III, or mixed Mode I/Mode III loading conditions can be simulated. A three dimensional finite element analysis is then used to evaluate the fracture toughness and energy release rate of SNTT specimens. In the current study, both epoxy and fiberglass reinforced epoxy materials are investigated using the SNTT technique. This paper will discuss the fracture behaviors of mode I and mixed mode samples, with or without fatigue precrack. In addition, results from fractographic study and finite element analysis will be presented and discussed in detail.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1040742}, journal = {Engineering Fracture Mechanics},
issn = {0013-7944},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2011},
month = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2011}
}