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U.S. Department of Energy
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Lifetimes statistics for single Kevlar 49 aramid filaments in creep-rupture at elevated temperatures

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:5250398
Kevlar 49 fibrous composites are routinely fabricated to have strengths above 1.5 GPa(200 ksi), but in many applications one would like to sustain such stresses for long time periods, sometimes at elevated temperatures. Thus the temperature dependence of the creep-rupture process in the fibers is of interest. Experimental data are presented for the lifetime of single Kevlar 49 filaments under constant stress at elevated temperatures. The goal of this research was to fully characterize the statistical strength and lifetime behavior of single filaments in order to separate fiber effects from fiber/matrix interactions in the creep-rupture lifetime of Kevlar 49/epoxy composites as described for example in Phoenix and Wu (1983). First we conducted experiments to determine distributions for the strength of filaments from the two distinct spools as a function of temperature. As expected, the data could generally be fitted by a two-parameter Weibull distribution. Lifetime experiments at 80 and 130/sup 0/C were conducted at several stress levels chosen as suitable fractions of the Weibull scale parameter for short-term strength for that temperature. The lifetime data were well modelled by a two-parameter Weibull distribution with large variability.
Research Organization:
Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (USA)
OSTI ID:
5250398
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English