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Impact Damage and Mechanical Analysis of Thin-Walled Composites

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A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Advanced Composites".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 October 2021) | Viewed by 22259

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Tomasz Kubiak

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Guest Editor

Lodz University of Technology, Department of Strength of Materials, Lodz, Poland
Interests: thin-walled structures; nonlinear stability; failure; composite materials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Thin-walled structures and their behavior are quite well investigated, especially those made of orthotropic materials. Such structures are often called light-weight structures due to high strength corresponding to a relatively small mass. It should be mentioned that the great disadvantage is the high possibility of stability loss, which could lead to change in its stiffness or total damage. The well-known laminates, such as advanced versions of FRP, FGM or FML, allow the new possibility to create better thin-walled structures with higher resistance to static or dynamic loads but come with new difficulties connected to their behavior and damage in that new area of possible research investigations. For example, some of these new difficulties could be the influence of operation damage on work of thin-walled laminate structures, the layer arrangement influence on different features of thin-walled structures, residual stress generated during the manufacturing process and its influence on thin-walled structures’ behavior, resistance of laminates at low and high velocity impact and crack propagation during operating load, and many others.

This Special Issue is focused on finding and presenting the advantages and disadvantages of different types of laminates or functionally graded materials applied in thin-walled structures, which could appear in different parts of their life, from the manufacturing process through to their total failure or degradation. The results of theoretical, analytical, numerical or experimental investigation can be presented, as well as new developed methods allowing a better description of work of such a structure.

The topics of interest include but are not limited to:

- Buckling, postbuckling, load-carrying capacity, and failure of thin-walled laminate structures;

- FRP or FML laminate tailoring;

- Laminate structures under a low or high velocity impact load;

- Influence of the manufacturing process on structure behavior under operation load;

- Thin-walled laminate structure behavior under dynamic load;

- Failure and crack-propagation in different types of laminates.

Prof. Tomasz Kubiak
Guest Editor

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Keywords

thin-walled structures
FRP
FML
FGM
failure
nonlinear buckling
dynamic buckling, impact load

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

30 pages, 27265 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bondline Thickness Effects on Damage Tolerance of Adhesive Joints Subjected to Localized Impact Damages: Application to Leading Edge of Wind Turbine Blades

by Amrit Shankar Verma, Nils Petter Vedvik, Zhen Gao, Saullo G. P. Castro and Julie J. E. Teuwen

Materials 2021, 14(24), 7526; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma14247526 - 08 Dec 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2720

Abstract

The leading edges of wind turbine blades are adhesively bonded composite sections that are susceptible to impact loads during offshore installation. The impact loads can cause localized damages at the leading edges that necessitate damage tolerance assessment. However, owing to the complex material combinations together with varying bondline thicknesses along the leading edges, damage tolerance investigation of blades at full scale is challenging and costly. In the current paper, we design a coupon scale test procedure for investigating bondline thickness effects on damage tolerance of joints after being subjected to localized impact damages. Joints with bondline thicknesses (0.6 mm, 1.6 mm, and 2.6 mm) are subjected to varying level of impact energies (5 J, 10 J, and 15 J), and the dominant failure modes are identified together with analysis of impact kinematics. The damaged joints are further tested under tensile lap shear and their failure loads are compared to the intact values. The results show that for a given impact energy, the largest damage area was obtained for the thickest joint. In addition, the joints with the thinnest bondline thicknesses displayed the highest failure loads post impact, and therefore the greatest damage tolerance. For some of the thin joints, mechanical interlocking effects at the bondline interface increased the failure load of the joints by 20%. All in all, the coupon scale tests indicate no significant reduction in failure loads due to impact, hence contributing to the question of acceptable localized damage, i.e., damage tolerance with respect to static strength of the whole blade. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact Damage and Mechanical Analysis of Thin-Walled Composites)

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15 pages, 5366 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Effect of Geometrical Parameters of a Hexagonal Trigger on Energy Absorber Performance Using ANN

by Michał Rogala, Jakub Gajewski and Marcin Górecki

Materials 2021, 14(20), 5981; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma14205981 - 11 Oct 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 1406

Abstract

Thin-walled structures are commonly used as energy absorbers in motor vehicles. Their function is to protect the structural components of vehicles and to absorb energy completely during collisions up to 20 km/h. This paper focuses on maintaining crush axiality during research. To verify the numerical analyses, physical specimens were made and then subjected to dynamic crushing. Force and shortening values as well as high-speed camera images were used for data analysis. Through time-lapse shots, plastic deformation within the crush initiator was observed. Such detailed analysis allowed the determination of the influence of hexagonal triggers in the form of notches on the post-buckling progressive analysis. In this paper, neural networks were used to examine the importance of each variable. Data from numerical analyses were used for this purpose. Based on the analyses performed, the effects of both the width and height of the triggers on the crush load efficiency (CLE) and total efficiency (TE) ratios can be seen. The width of the crush initiator has the greatest influence on Crash-box performance. Nevertheless, increasing both the height and the width of the initiator can result in crush non-axiality and underperformance of the energy absorber. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact Damage and Mechanical Analysis of Thin-Walled Composites)

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20 pages, 72001 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Stacking Sequence on Strength and Stability of Suspension System Control Arm CFRP Laminate Rods

by Paula Mierzejewska, Jacek Świniarski and Tomasz Kubiak

Materials 2021, 14(19), 5849; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma14195849 - 06 Oct 2021

Viewed by 1357

Abstract

The paper deals with buckling and strength analysis of suspension system rods made of carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminate. The whole suspension system of urban solar vehicle, Eagle Two, designed by Lodz University of Technology students was considered. The calculations and analysis focused on suspension rods, where the traditional metal material was replaced with CFRP laminate. The influence of layer arrangement on rod strength, static, and dynamic buckling were analysed. The research was conducted using numerical simulations employing finite element method software. The static and dynamic load was considered. The obtained results show that the plies’ order in the laminate influences both the strength and stiffness of the considered rod. The best results considering both failure force and longitudinal elasticity modulus were obtained for the stacking sequences with axially oriented (0°) plies on the outside of the rod. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact Damage and Mechanical Analysis of Thin-Walled Composites)

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20 pages, 37967 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Hole Arrangement on Failure Mechanism of Multiple-Hole Fiber Metal Laminate under On-Axis and Off-Axis Loading

by Jipeng Zhang, Yue Wang, Wen Yang and Yuan Zhao

Materials 2021, 14(19), 5771; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma14195771 - 02 Oct 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1745

Abstract

Mechanical joints are commonly required in structures made of fiber metal laminate (FML), which pose a threat due to multi-site stress concentrations at rivet or bolt holes. Thus, for a reasonably designed FML joint, it is essential to characterize the failure mechanism of multiple-hole FML; however, little information about this has been found in open literature. In the present work, influences of hole arrangement and loading strategy (on-axis or off-axis) on the failure mechanism of multiple-hole FML were investigated, by performing finite element analyses and energy dissipation analyses with elastoplastic progressive damage models that took curing stress into account. Six types of specimens with holes arranged in parallel and staggered forms were designed, whose geometrical parameters were in strict accordance with those specified for composites joints. It indicated that the stress distribution, gross/net notched strength, critical fracture path, and damage evaluation process were only slightly influenced by the hole number and hole arrangement. On the other hand, they were strongly influenced by the loading strategy, due to the transition of failure domination. Results presented here can provide evidence for introducing design regulations of composite joints into the more hybrid FML, and for reasonably determining its multiple-hole strength merely based on the sing-hole specimen. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact Damage and Mechanical Analysis of Thin-Walled Composites)

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28 pages, 6677 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Eigenproblem Versus the Load-Carrying Capacity of Hybrid Thin-Walled Columns with Open Cross-Sections in the Elastic Range

by Zbigniew Kolakowski and Andrzej Teter

Materials 2021, 14(13), 3468; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma14133468 - 22 Jun 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1121

Abstract

The phenomena that occur during compression of hybrid thin-walled columns with open cross-sections in the elastic range are discussed. Nonlinear buckling problems were solved within Koiter’s approximation theory. A multimodal approach was assumed to investigate an effect of symmetrical and anti-symmetrical buckling modes on the ultimate load-carrying capacity. Detailed simulations were carried out for freely supported columns with a C-section and a top-hat type section of medium lengths. The columns under analysis were made of two layers of isotropic materials characterized by various mechanical properties. The results attained were verified with the finite element method (FEM). The boundary conditions applied in the FEM allowed us to confirm the eigensolutions obtained within Koiter’s theory with very high accuracy. Nonlinear solutions comply within these two approaches for low and medium overloads. To trace the correctness of the solutions, the Riks algorithm, which allows for investigating unsteady paths, was used in the FEM. The results for the ultimate load-carrying capacity obtained within the FEM are higher than those attained with Koiter’s approximation method, but the leap takes place on the identical equilibrium path as the one determined from Koiter’s theory. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact Damage and Mechanical Analysis of Thin-Walled Composites)

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15 pages, 89900 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Collapse of Titanium C-Column due to Thermal Compression

by Leszek Czechowski, Adrian Gliszczyński and Nina Wiącek

Materials 2020, 13(18), 4193; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma13184193 - 21 Sep 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1688

Abstract

The analysis of structures under higher temperature is important for predicting the ultimate strength of a structure. Therefore, many experimental tests on samples should be undertaken to observe their behaviour and to determine ultimate load. The present work includes the study on a thin-walled C-column made of titanium compressed in an elevated temperature. The phenomenon of buckling and the post-buckling state of columns were investigated during heating or compressing in higher temperature. The tests of compression were conducted for several temperature increments by assuming the same preload to determine the load-carrying capacity. The deformations of columns until total damage were measured by using the non-contact Digital Image Correlation Aramis^® System (DICAS). The numerical calculations based on the finite element method (FEM) were performed to validate the empirical results. The full characteristics of one-directional tension tests were taken into account in order for them to be constant or dependent on the temperature change. Numerical computations were conducted by employing Green–Lagrange equations for large deflections and strains. Based on our own experiment, the thermal property of titanium as a linear expansion coefficient was stable up to 300 °C in contrast to its mechanical properties. The paper shows the influence of varying material properties as a function of temperature on the behaviour and load-carrying capacity of columns. These aspects cause thin-walled columns made of titanium to endure, in elevated temperatures, significantly smaller maximum loads. Moreover, the critical buckling loads for several types of stiff supports were compared to the maximum loads of columns. The results obtained indicate that the temperature rise in columns by 175 K with regard to ambient temperature brings about the decrease of the maximum load by a half. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact Damage and Mechanical Analysis of Thin-Walled Composites)

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19 pages, 29215 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Flexural Damage of Honeycomb Paperboard—A Numerical and Experimental Study

by Leszek Czechowski, Wojciech Śmiechowicz, Gabriela Kmita-Fudalej and Włodzimierz Szewczyk

Materials 2020, 13(11), 2601; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma13112601 - 07 Jun 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2892

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental and numerical analysis using the finite element method (FEM) of the bending of honeycomb-core panel. Segments of honeycomb paperboard of several thicknesses were subjected to four-point flexure tests to determine their bending stiffness and maximum load. Several mechanical properties of orthotropic materials were taken into account to account for the experimental results. The numerical analysis of the damage prediction was conducted by using well-known failure criteria such as maximum stress, maximum strain and Tsai-Wu. The present study revealed how to model the honeycomb panel to obtain curves close to experimental ones. This approach can be useful for modelling more complex structures made of honeycomb paperboard. Moreover, thanks to the use of variously shaped cells in numerical models, i.e., the shape of a regular hexagon and models with a real shape of the core cell, results of the calculation were comparable with the results of the measurements. It turned out that the increase of maximum loads and rise in stiffness for studied samples were almost either linearly proportional or quadratically proportional as a function of the panel thickness, respectively. On the basis of failure criteria, slightly lower maximum loads were attained in a comparison to empiric maximum loads. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact Damage and Mechanical Analysis of Thin-Walled Composites)

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16 pages, 5396 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Mode Buckling Analysis of FGM Channel Section Beams

by Monika Zaczynska and Filip Kazmierczyk

Materials 2020, 13(11), 2567; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma13112567 - 04 Jun 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2179

Abstract

The interactive buckling phenomenon in thin-walled channel section beams is investigated in this paper. This study deals with medium length beams made of the step-variable functionally graded materials (FGM) which consists of aluminum and titanium layers. The interaction of local, primary and secondary global buckling mode and their effect on the load-carrying capacity is discussed. The parametric studies are performed to assess the effect of the thickness of the beam’s component, its length and position of the individual layer on the equilibrium paths. Additionally, the influence of the adhesive layer between materials was analyzed. The problem was solved using the Finite Element Method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact Damage and Mechanical Analysis of Thin-Walled Composites)

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15 pages, 11636 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Strength of Egg Trays under Compression: A Numerical and Experimental Study

by Leszek Czechowski, Gabriela Kmita-Fudalej and Włodzimierz Szewczyk

Materials 2020, 13(10), 2279; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma13102279 - 15 May 2020

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4747

Abstract

This work concerns the analysis of egg packages subjected to compression. Experimental investigations were carried out to determine the curves of compression and maximum loads. To compare packages accessible on the market, several different shapes of egg packages were tested after being conditioned in air with a relative humidity of 50%. Several paper structures in stock were compressed. By validating the experiment results, numerical computations based on the finite element method (FEM) were executed. The estimations of a numerical model were performed with the use of the perfect plasticity of paper and with the assumption of large strains and deflections. Our own two structures of egg packaging were taken into account: basic and modified. The material of the packages was composed of 90% recovered paper and 10% coconut fibres. This paper involved the numerical modelling of such complex packaging. Moreover, our research showed that introducing several features into the structures of the packaging can improve the stiffness and raise the maximum load. Thanks to the application of ribs and grooves, the strength ratio and compression stiffness, in comparison to the basic tray, increased by approximately 23.4% and 36%, respectively. Moreover, the obtained indexes of modified trays were higher than the majority of the studied market trays. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact Damage and Mechanical Analysis of Thin-Walled Composites)

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12 pages, 5372 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Non-Linear Stability of the Step-Variable In-Plane Functionally Graded Plates Subjected to Linear Approaches of the Edges

by Zbigniew Kołakowski and Leszek Czechowski

Materials 2020, 13(6), 1439; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma13061439 - 21 Mar 2020

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1593

Abstract

The analysis of gradations through the thickness in structures are commonly used. It usually refers to the problems of the stability of functionally graded (FG) structures. In this work, rectangular in-plane FG plates built of a material gradation along the transversal direction were assumed. Five-strip FG plates with four cases that were based on the boundary conditions on longitudinal edges and simply supported on transverse loaded edges were considered. The non-linear stability problems of the FG plates that were subjected to linear approaches of the transverse edges for several types of loads were solved. The estimations were executed with two methods: an analytical-numerical way based on Koiter’s theory and finite element method (FEM). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact Damage and Mechanical Analysis of Thin-Walled Composites)

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