0000000000006314
AUTHOR
J. Modniks
showing 5 related works from this author
Modeling the non-linear deformation of a short-flax-fiber-reinforced polymer composite by orientation averaging
2013
Abstract The growing usage of short-flax-fiber-reinforced polymer composites in such applications as automotive industry necessitates the prediction of their mechanical response up to and beyond the limit of elasticity. Due to the imperfect, mechanical interlocking-dominated adhesion of natural fibers to most polymers, both fiber debonding and matrix yielding contribute to the non-linear deformation. In the present study, the deformation under an active loading of a short misaligned fiber composite is modeled by the orientation averaging approach, employing an analytical description of the behavior of a unit cell (UC), the parameters of which are determined using a FEM analysis of UC respon…
Evaluation of toughness by finite fracture mechanics from crack onset strain of brittle coatings on polymers
2008
Crack onset strain measurements of a confined layer in tension provide the means for layer toughness estimation. The procedure can be simplified if steady-state conditions prevail starting from the commencement of crack propagation, an assumption frequently employed in energy release rate evaluation. It is demonstrated, by numerical analysis of experimental data, that an estimate of the defect size in the film is needed in order to reliably evaluate its fracture toughness from the crack onset strain. Only if microcracks of sufficient size are present in the brittle layer, the steady-state energy release rate at the crack onset strain can be identified with layer toughness. Otherwise, the to…
Estimation of the effective diffusivity of blowing agents in closed-cell low-density polyurethane foams based on thermal aging data
2021
Abstract Low-density closed-cell polyurethane (PU) foams are applied as thermal insulation materials due to their low thermal conductivity imparted by that of the physical blowing agent (PBA) used in foam production. However, foam conductivity tends to gradually increase with time, primarily due to changes in the gas composition in foam cells brought about by gas diffusion. To enable predicting the variation of conductivity during the service life of foam insulation, gas diffusivities are usually determined by measuring the gas composition in foams at different aging times. This study considers an alternative approach of estimating the effective diffusivities of gases in PU foams, which is …
A probabilistic model of the tensile strength of a UD flax-fabric-reinforced polymer composite
2016
In order to fully realize the efficiency of bast fibers or their yarns as reinforcement of polymer composites, they should be aligned. Tensile strength of such composites in the direction of reinforcement has been found to exhibit size effect commensurable with that of unidirectionally reinforced (UD) composites with inorganic fibers, necessitating a probabilistic modeling approach. Strength distribution of a polymer matrix composite reinforced with aligned twisted bast fiber yarns is considered allowing for the strength scatter of elementary fibers, the presence of defects in the form of adjacent fiber breaks, and twist of the yarns. The model is applied to predicting the strength of flax/…
Modeling elastic properties of short flax fiber-reinforced composites by orientation averaging
2010
Abstract Natural fibers of plant origin, used as reinforcement in polymer matrix composite materials, exhibit highly anisotropic elastic properties due to their complex internal structure. Mechanical properties can be evaluated not only by tests but also by mechanical models reflecting the principal morphological features of fibers. Such a FEM model is applied to estimate the elastic properties of a unit cell of a short-fiber-reinforced composite, an elementary flax fiber embedded in a polymer matrix. Orientation averaging approach is used for prediction of the stiffness of short flax fiber reinforced polymer matrix composite. The numerical estimates of Young’s modulus are compared to the t…