Quasi-static behaviour and damage assessment of flax/epoxy composites
Experimental investigations were conducted on flax and E-glass fibres reinforced epoxy matrix composites subjected to quasi-static loadings. Flax/epoxy samples having [0]12, [90]12, [0/90]3S and [±45]3S stacking sequences, with a fibre volume fraction of 43% have been tested under tension, compression and in-plane shear loadings. Overall, the compression strength of glass/epoxy was 76% greater than for the flax/epoxy composite. The damage evolution of flax/epoxy of [0/90]3S and [±45]3S samples has been evaluated in terms of transverse crack densities with respect to the load increment. The crack density exhibited a classical “S” shaped pattern for [0/90]3S and linearly for [±45]3S specimens…
Properties evolution of flax/epoxy composites under fatigue loading
International audience; The tension-tension fatigue behaviour of flax fibre reinforced epoxy matrix composites have been investigated for specimens having [0]12, [90]12, [0/90]3S and [±45]3S lay-ups. The Probabilized Stress-Number of cycles (P-S-N) curves have been determined for each laminate type. The measured stress and strain data allowed to quantify the evolution of the mechanical properties, i.e. stiffness, damping and permanent strain as a function of imposed cycles. Especially, the stiffening phenomenon of flax reinforcements oriented parallel to the loading direction has been confirmed. However, due to the competition between damage development and the fibre stiffening, the increas…
Impact behaviour of flax/epoxy composite plates
This paper presents an experimental investigation of the impact behaviour of flax/epoxy composite plates submitted to low-velocity transverse impact. Low energy drop-weight impact tests have been performed on two types of quasi-isotropic flax/epoxy composites, rectangularly shaped with edges lengths of 142 mm × 94 mm and 2.85 mm thick. Residual properties have been assessed by compression after impact tests. A detailed description of damage development, especially the increase of the rear face crack with respect to the impact energy is given by the microscopic observation. The influence of impact damage on the residual strength is described. A loss of 15%–30% in compression resistance was n…
A scale approach for the response and the damage of glass/epoxy composite tubes under accidental impact
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Characterization of the dynamic behaviour of flax fibre reinforced composites using vibration measurements
International audience; Experimental and numerical methods to identify the linear viscoelastic properties of flax fibre reinforced epoxy (FFRE) composite are presented in this study. The method relies on the evolution of storage modulus and loss factor as observed through the frequency response. Free-free symmetrically guided beams were excited on the dynamic range of 10 Hz to 4 kHz with a swept sine excitation focused around their first modes. A fractional derivative Zener model has been identified to predict the complex moduli. A modified ply constitutive law has been then implemented in a classical laminates theory calculation (CLT) routine.
Hygrothermal effect on moisture kinetics and mechanical properties of hemp/polypropylene composite: Experimental and numerical studies
The exposition of thermoplastic composites reinforced with natural fibers to moisture and heat is likely to lower their mechanical properties and restrain their use in the design of parts. The present work is focussed on investigating the effects of hygrothermal aging on the mechanical behaviour of injected polypropylene reinforced with short hemp fibers. Moreover, the kinetic of isothermal moisture absorption has been studied for four immersion temperatures. The experimental results show that the time taken to reach saturation decreases significantly with increase in immersion temperature. These tests also reveal that moisture absorption in this type of materials does not follow Fick's law…
Prediction of Dissipative Properties of Flax Fibers Reinforced Laminates by Vibration Analysis
This study proposes an experimental-numeric method to identify the viscoelastic properties of flax fibres reinforced composite laminate (flax/epoxide). The used method consists in identifying the evolutions of both loss factor and stiffness when vibrational frequency changes. In this way, several free-free symmetrically guided beams are excited on a dynamic range of 10 to 4000 Hz with sweep sine excitation focused around the 4-first’s modes. Fractional derivative Zener model is used to identify the on-axis ply complex moduli and describe the laminate dissipative linear behavior with the classical laminate theory. Results obtained on a quasi-isotropic laminate show that this model adequately…
Determination of dynamic properties of flax fibres reinforced laminate using vibration measurements
International audience; Experimental and numerical methods to identify the linear viscoelastic properties of flax fibre reinforced polymer (FFRP) composite are presented in this study. The method relies on the evolution of storage modulus and loss factor as observed through the frequency response. Free-free symmetrically guided beams were excited in the dynamic range of 10 Hz to 4 kHz with a swept sine excitation focused around their first modes. A fractional derivative Zener model has been identified to predict the complex moduli. A modified ply constitutive law has been then implemented in a classical laminates theory calculation (CLT) routine. Overall, the Zener model fitted the experime…
Damage detection of a hybrid composite laminate aluminum/glass under quasi-static and fatigue loadings by acoustic emission technique
Abstract This paper deals with the characterization by Acoustic Emission technique of damages occurring in a hybrid laminate aluminium/glass during quasi-static and fatigue tests. Indeed, hybrid laminates materials metal/composites are more and more considered in structure, automotive and aerospace designs because of their good mechanical performances and lightness. To understand their damages characteristics, several types of laminates (fiber orientations, number of folds, presence or not of an aluminium sheet) have been tested. The acoustic emission analysis has been realized using statistical multi-parameters methods of data clustering: combination of Principal Components Analysis (PCA) …
A comparative study of fatigue behaviour of flax/epoxy and glass/epoxy composites
Experimental investigations on flax and glass fabrics reinforced epoxy specimens, i.e. FFRE and GFRE, submitted to fatigue tests are presented in this paper. Samples having [0/90]3S and [±45]3S stacking sequences, with similar fibre volume fractions have been tested under tension–tension fatigue loading. The specific stress-number of cycles to failure (S–N) curves, show that for the [0/90]3S specimens, FFRE have lower fatigue endurance than GFRE, but the [±45]3S FFRE specimens offer better specific fatigue endurance than similar GFRE, in the studied life range (<2 × 10^6). Overall, the three-stage stiffness degradation is observed in all cases except for [0/90]3S FFRE specimens, which prese…
Experimental Investigation and Finite Element Analysis of Dynamic Behavior and Damage of Glass/Epoxy Tubular Structures
This paper presents finite element analysis (FEA) of static and dynamic tests of thick filament wound glass/epoxy tubes. The first part involves the validation of elastic properties and identification of damage initiation and its development in dynamic tests. The results of FEA of the dynamic tests without damage appeared satisfactory. An impact model, including material property degradation, is used for damage prediction. The simulated damage is compared with that obtained experimentally. The sizes of projected and cumulated surfaces are of the same order of magnitude as in the experimental measurements.