Effects of layer waviness on compression-loaded thermoplastic composite laminates

Thesis/Dissertation · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:7162391

Adams, D O

The effects of layer waviness on the compression response of T300/P1700 carbon/polysulfone composite laminates were investigated both experimentally and analytically. The influence of various layer-wave geometries on the static compression strength and compression fatigue life were determined experimentally. Moire interferometry was used to investigate the disturbance in the displacement fields and the modes of deformation associated with layer waviness under compression loading. The state of stress in the vicinity of the layer waves and the influence of the layer waves on static compression strength were predicted using a plane-strain finite element analysis which included material nonlinearity. Layer wave geometries up to 1.5-layer thicknesses in amplitude and 22-layer thicknesses in length were tested. These levels of layer waviness are shown to produce reductions in static strength as high as 36%, although the wavy 0{degree} accounts for only 20% of the load-carrying capacity of the laminate.

• Research Organization: Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ., Blacksburg, VA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 7162391
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360603* -- Materials-- Properties
CARBON
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
COMPRESSION STRENGTH
ELEMENTS
FATIGUE
FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
LAYERS
MATERIALS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLASTICS
POLYMERS
STRESS ANALYSIS
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
THERMOPLASTICS