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Laminated multifunctional composites are highly desired in modern lightweight engineering structures. The purpose of this study is to develop a composite laminate with impact tolerance, delamination healing, strain sensing, Joule heating, deicing, and room temperature shape restoration functionalities. In this study, a novel self-healable and recyclable shape memory vitrimer was used as the matrix, unidirectional glass fabric was used as reinforcement, and tension programmed shape memory alloy (SMA) wires were used as z-pins. To provide multifunctionality, the programmed SMA wires were further twisted and formed into sinusoidal shape. Copper wire strands were hooked to the sinusoidal SMA z-pins to make them a closed circuit. Low velocity impact, compression after impact, damage self-healing, deicing, and room temperature shape restoration tests were conducted. The tests result show that the desired multifunctionality of the laminated composite was achieved. The hybrid laminate provides a promising design for lightweight load-carrying engineering structures.
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Investigating Surface and Sub-Surface Damage in IM7/8552 via in-situ Synchrotron X-ray Computed Tomography
Polymer matrix composites are popular in the aerospace industry due to their high strength to weight ratio. While they have become popular, understanding and predicting their specific damage evolution mechanisms remains a challenge especially in designing with damage tolerance criteria. One challenge often faced is the presence of surface damage either induced during manufacturing, machining, or service of a composite part. While many studies have investigated how quasi-static, low-velocity, and ballistic impact results in damage in the material, there remains a need to further understand the reduction in performance that results from such surface damage. In this work, micro-indentation was conducted on a unidirectional IM7/8552 laminate composite specimen to induce quasi-static impact damage that results in surface damage. The specimen was then loaded in tension to 33% of its expected failure load and imaged using synchrotron X-ray micro-computed tomography to qualitatively investigate the progression of surface damage into sub-surface damage. This work shows that at 33% of tensile failure load, surface damage propagates into delamination and fiber breakage of plies directly sub-surface. This work sheds light on the progression of surface damage at loads less than 50% of the ultimate strength of a unidirectional laminate composite.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1662554
- PAR ID:
- 10179418
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- AIAA SciTech 2020 Forum
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Conference Paper:
- https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2020-0248
