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Title: High strain rate mechanical properties of IM7/8551-7 graphite epoxy composite

Book ·
OSTI ID:237733
; ;  [1]
  1. Univ. of Delaware, Newark, DE (United States)

Polymer matrix composites offer excellent mechanical properties such as high specific strength and stiffness which make them attractive for many naval, aerospace and automotive structural components. Although they are candidate materials for many applications where high strain rate loading is probable, little is known of the material responses to shock loading for most composite materials. Because mechanical properties vary significantly with strain rate, the use of static properties in the analysis and design of structures which undergo dynamic loadings can on one hand lead to a very conservative overweight design, or on the other hand can lead to designs which fail prematurely and unexpectedly. The use of dynamic material properties will ensure the design of composite structures which are weight efficient and structurally sound when they are subjected to dynamic loads. In this study, a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar is used to obtain compressive mechanical properties of a unidirectional IM7/8551-7 graphite epoxy composite. For each of the three principal directions, the yield stress, yield strain, ultimate stress, ultimate strain, modulus of elasticity, elastic strain energy function and the total strain energy to failure are presented for strain rates varying from 49 sec{sup {minus}1} to 1430 sec{sup {minus}1}. The data from 72 tests are statistically analyzed, represented by equations, and discussed in some detail.

OSTI ID:
237733
Report Number(s):
CONF-9510177-; ISBN 1-56676-376-2; TRN: IM9625%%58
Resource Relation:
Conference: 10. technical conference on composite materials, Santa Monica, CA (United States), 18-20 Oct 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Proceedings of the American Society for Composites: Tenth technical conference. Composite materials, mechanics and processing; PB: 659 p.
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English