Este trabalho trata das falhas que podem ocorrer em uniões e juntas de materiais compósitos unidas mecanicamente por parafusos. O compósito de fibra de carbono (tecido) embutido em resina epoxy foi estudado neste trabalho devido ao amplo uso em estruturas de vários segmentos da indústria. O trabalho apresenta vários critérios de falha, demonstrando as vantagens e desvantagens de cada um para materiais compósitos. A fabricação dos corpos de provas e os ensaios necessários para obtenção de parâmetros e validação de estruturas são descritos. A resistência da junta mostrou-se muito menor do que a da estrutura de compósito, demonstrando a importância de estudos assim. Criou-se um modelo numérico utilizando critérios de falhas como o critério de Hashin e o de máxima tensão. Os resultados da simulação de elementos finitos tiveram uma boa relação com os ensaios experimentais e o modelo foi então validado e considerado representativo. / This work shows failures that can occur in composite mechanically fastened joints. The composite carbon fiber embedded in epoxy resin, used in this study, was chosen due to it\'s wide use in structures of any segment of the industry. Many failure criteria, showing the advantages and disadvantages for each, regarding composite structures are presented in this work. Test specimens\' manufacturing is described along with required tests for parameter definition and structures validation. The countersunk fastened joint strength is much lower than the composite structure itself, demonstrating the necessity of studies like this. A numerical model using criteria like Hashin and maximum stress was created. The finite elements\' simulation results had a close response to the experimental results and the model was validated and considered representative.

Ce travail de thèse porte sur l’étude et la mise en évidence de relations microstructure-propriétés dans des revêtements modèles à base époxy représentatifs de peinture anticorrosion. Ces relations sont établies aussi bien à l’état initial que lors de vieillissements hygrothermiques. Cette étude a tout d’abord consisté à caractériser les propriétés physico-chimiques et mécaniques du système stœchiométrique DGEBA/DAMP totalement réticulé. Ces propriétés ont été comparées à celles du système DGEBA/TETA et ont permis de montrer la forte influence de la microstructure sur ces propriétés initiales. Des vieillissements hygrothermiques cycliques à différentes températures sur films libres ont été effectués pour mesurer l’impact de la microstructure sur la durabilité des systèmes époxy. Ces travaux ont pu montrer l’influence des interactions eau-polymère dans les phénomènes de diffusion. De plus, les évolutions de certaines propriétés physico-chimiques et mécaniques ont pu être caractérisées à l’aide de la DMA (mors submersibles), lors des différentes étapes de sorption-désorption. Un comportement pseudo-fickien a pu être mis en évidence lors de la première sorption, suivi d’un comportement fickien lors des autres étapes. Les causes inhérentes à cette évolution ont pu être avancées, en mettant en jeu des réorganisations microstructurales des systèmes époxy étudiés. D’autres vieillissements hygrothermiques ont été réalisés à l’aide de la SIE sur des revêtements pour étudier l’effet de l’interface revêtement/substrat acier sur les phénomènes de diffusion, notamment le rôle des contraintes résiduelles. L’influence de la contrainte visco-élastique sur les phénomènes de prise en eau des revêtements a finalement été étudiée. / This work highlights the microstructure-properties relations inside representative epoxy based model coatings for anticorrosion paints. These relations have been established for the initial state as well as the hygrothermal ageing. First, we characterised physico-chemical and mechanical properties of the totally crosslinked DGEBA/DAMP stoichiometric system. These properties have been compared to the DGEBA/TETA system and they showed the strong influence of the microstructure on these initial properties. Cyclic hygrothermal ageing have been completed at different temperatures on free films, in order to measure the impact of the microstructure on the durability of epoxy systems. This work has shown the influence of the water-polymer interactions on diffusion phenomena. Moreover, the evolutions of several physico-chemical and mechanical properties have been characterised using DMA (submersible clamps), during different sorption-desorption steps. A pseudo-fickian behaviour has been evidenced during the first sorption, and it was followed by a fickian behaviour for all other steps. The inherent causes of this evolution have been proposed, by considering microstructural reorganisations of the studied epoxy systems. Other hygrothermal ageing have been carried out using EIS on coatings, in order to study the effects of the coating/steel substrate interface on diffusion phenomena, especially the role of residual stresses. We finally studied the influence of the visco-elastic stress on the coating water intake phenomena.

Ce travail de thèse vise à adapter un système polymère au procédé d’élaboration par infusion d’une structure en matériaux composite pour fuselage d’avion. Ce système doit répondre à certaines exigences de viscosité, de température d’infusion, de stockage mais également de prix. La méthodologie mise en place consiste à s’approprier le procédé de mise en oeuvre afin de valider le choix des résines, de les caractériser à l’état initial et enfin d’étudier leur durabilité vis-à-vis d’un vieillissement hygrothermique. La caractérisation des propriétés a mis en évidence des comportements différents à l’état initial en termes de transition vitreuse, résilience et viscosité. L’étude du vieillissement hygrothermique montre une chute des propriétés fortement liée à l’évolution chimique des réseaux polymères qui a pour origine majeure l’hydrolyse de plusieurs liaisons. Enfin, un test d’adhérence est mis en place afin d’évaluer l’interface fibre/résine. Ce test a permis d’estimer les différents traitements de surface effectués sur les fibres. / The work presented in this thesis was done to adapt a polymer to selected elaboration process by infusion of a composite material structure for an aircraft fuselage. The polymer system must meet certain requirements such as viscosity, infusion temperature, storage but also the price. Our methodology is to understand the process putting into practice in order to validate the resins choice, to characterize the initial state and the study their sustainability towards a hydrothermal ageing. Properties characterization showed different behaviours in initial state, in terms of glass transition, resilience and viscosity. The study of hydrothermal ageing reveals a drop properties closely related to the chemical evolution of polymer networks which has for major origin multiple links hydrolysis. At least an adherence test is carried out to assess the interface fiber/resin. This test was used to estimate the different surface treatments on the fiber.

Este trabalho trata das falhas que podem ocorrer em uniões e juntas de materiais compósitos unidas mecanicamente por parafusos. O compósito de fibra de carbono (tecido) embutido em resina epoxy foi estudado neste trabalho devido ao amplo uso em estruturas de vários segmentos da indústria. O trabalho apresenta vários critérios de falha, demonstrando as vantagens e desvantagens de cada um para materiais compósitos. A fabricação dos corpos de provas e os ensaios necessários para obtenção de parâmetros e validação de estruturas são descritos. A resistência da junta mostrou-se muito menor do que a da estrutura de compósito, demonstrando a importância de estudos assim. Criou-se um modelo numérico utilizando critérios de falhas como o critério de Hashin e o de máxima tensão. Os resultados da simulação de elementos finitos tiveram uma boa relação com os ensaios experimentais e o modelo foi então validado e considerado representativo. / This work shows failures that can occur in composite mechanically fastened joints. The composite carbon fiber embedded in epoxy resin, used in this study, was chosen due to it\'s wide use in structures of any segment of the industry. Many failure criteria, showing the advantages and disadvantages for each, regarding composite structures are presented in this work. Test specimens\' manufacturing is described along with required tests for parameter definition and structures validation. The countersunk fastened joint strength is much lower than the composite structure itself, demonstrating the necessity of studies like this. A numerical model using criteria like Hashin and maximum stress was created. The finite elements\' simulation results had a close response to the experimental results and the model was validated and considered representative.

The master thesis deals with the design and production of the mold for vacuum forming. Specifically, how the existing and new mold materials affect their design and, consequently, their production technology. The thesis contains a brief description of the principle of vacuum molding. Technological and design principles of designing molds. Furthermore, the realization of the solution variants and the simulation of their production. The solved variants are subsequently evaluated from a technical and economic point of view.

The present work deals with the electrical properties of nanocomposite materials. Samples for the experiment are made of epoxy resin as a matrix and oxides TiO2, Al2O3, WO3, SiO2 as nanofillers in 0.5 and 1 percent performance. The experimental samples are measured in temperature and frequency dependence of relative permittivity, dissipation factor, rezistivity and are broken down by the influence of filler on the electrical properties of the polymer. Attention is also paid to the mechanical properties of nanocomposites.

The present master´s thesis deals with the electrical properties of nanocomposite materials. Samples for the experiment are made epoxi resin and oxides TiO2 and Al2O3 as nanofillers in different percent performace. The samples nanocomposites are measured temperature dependence of the resistivity inside, dissipation factor and relative permittivity. It discusses the effect of the filler on the resulting electrical properties of the polymer.

Les résines époxy renforcées par des nodules thermoplastiques sont largement utilisées dans les matériaux composites à matrice organique de l’industrie aéronautique. Dans le cas particulier des stratifiés, les résines époxy déterminent la résistance du milieu inter-laminaire au délaminage. Ce processus de décohésion macroscopique apparaît classiquement lors d’un impact dynamique et compromet fortement l’intégrité des structures composites légères. Pourtant, les modèles cohésifs actuels ne sont pas prévus pour la simulation du délaminage sous sollicitation rapide. Notamment, l’influence présumée de la dynamique sur la rupture du milieu inter-laminaire riche en résine époxy n’est pas prise en compte. Par conséquent, cette recherche consiste à caractériser l’initiation et la propagation de fissure dans une résine époxy sous chargement dynamique. Dans cet objectif, des éprouvettes entaillées sont fabriquées à partir de la résine époxy Hexply RM21 spécifique du domaine aéronautique. Un protocole expérimental est développé et validé afin d’estimer les ténacités d’initiation et de propagation d’une éprouvette chargée en flexion 3-points par un vérin hydraulique. Les essais réalisés démontrent que la ténacité dynamique augmente fortement avec la vitesse de propagation de fissure, à l’inverse de la ténacité d’initiation qui diminue avec la vitesse d’impact. Ces évolutions sont cohérentes avec les micrographies réalisées post-mortem qui présentent une augmentation des mécanismes de rupture. Finalement, une loi cohésive est définie et identifiée pour prendre en compte l’influence de la dynamique sur l’initiation et la propagation d’une fissure dans la résine époxy étudiée. / Epoxy resins toughened with embedded thermoplastic particles are classically used in the aeronautical composites manufacturing. As matrix into laminated composites, epoxy resins determine the delamination resistance of the interlaminar field. The delamination process is a large decohesion that often occurs during impact loadings and it critically compromises the integrity of the light weight composite structures. However, most of the cohesive zone models are not intended to simulate delamination under high rate loadings. In particular, these models do not consider the expected effects of loading rate on fracture behaviour of the resin-rich interlaminar field. Therefore, this research aims at characterizing crack initiation and propagation in epoxy resins under dynamic loadings. For that purpose, we manufacture notched specimens made of pure Hexply RM21 epoxy resin which is mainly used in aeronautics. An experimental procedure is developed and validated in order to estimate initiation and propagation fracture toughness on a 3-points bending test associated to a servo-hydraulic testing machine. Experimental results demonstrate that the dynamic fracture toughness highly increases with the crack propagation speed while the initiation toughness decreases with the impact velocity. These evolutions are consistent with post-mortem micrographic observations that show intensifying fracture mechanisms. Finally, a cohesive law is defined and identified to take into account the dynamic dependency of crack initiation and propagation in the considered epoxy resin.

Harmonic distorted voltage waveforms can lead to excessive heat in the insulation of electrical equipment. The prospectively increasing number of power electronic devices in electrical grids requires the careful examination of the conse- quences of harmonics, which are introduced due to the operating principle of the semiconductor switches. Investigations of the thermal breakdown of solid dielectrics that may occur as a consequence of harmonic distortion on the voltage waveform of electrical grids are presented in this contribution. A thermo-electrical multi-frequency model allows the calculation of the overtemperature in the material. The calculations are confirmed by breakdown experiments of phenolic paper and epoxy resin. Generally, the additional dielectric losses due to the harmonic voltage distortion increase the possibility of exceeding the thermal equilibrium. However, modern insulation materials like the investigated epoxy resin have very low loss factors which is favourable for good thermal performance even with severely distorted voltages.

M. Tech. (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology), Vaal University of Technology. / Sisal is a vegetable fibre extracted from the leaves of Agave Sisalana. The fibre is long, bold and creamy white in colour besides being exceptionally strong. It can be used for making agricultural and parcelling twines of various kinds as well as ropes, sacks, carpet and upholstery. The primary purpose of this research was to study and evaluate the use of sisal as a reinforcing fibre in both treated and untreated forms with epoxy resin matrices. The casting process employed during the composite production was the the vacuum infusion. The effects of both the treated sisal fibre-epoxy resin composites and the untreated sisal fibre-epoxy resin composites on the tensile strength and stiffness, flexural strength and stiffness, impact toughness, shear strength, compression strength and hardness were evaluated. Finally, the occurrence of transverse matrix fracture and fibre pull-out were also studied. It was found that the quasi-static mechanical properties of both the treated sisal fibre-epoxy resin composites and the untreated sisal fibre-epoxy resin composites improved with increases in reinforcement weight fractions. Further, fibre surface treatment on the sisal fibres and the attendant increase in the interfacial bond also resulted into improved quasi-static mechanical properties of the treated sisal fibre-epoxy resin composites when compared to untreated sisal fibre-epoxy resin composites.