The application of smart materials to control the flight dynamics of a Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) has numerous benefits over traditional servomechanisms. Under study is wing morphing achieved through the use of piezoelectric Macro Fiber Composites (MFCs). These devices exhibit low power draw but excellent bandwidth characteristics. This thesis provides a background in the 2D analytical and computer modeling tools and methods needed to design and characterize an MFC-actuated airfoil. A composite airfoil is designed with embedded MFCs in a bimorph configuration. The deflection capabilities under actuation are predicted with the commercial finite element package NX Nastran. Placement of the piezoelectric actuator is studied for optimal effectiveness. A thermal analogy is used to represent piezoelectric strain. Lift and drag coefficients in low Reynolds number flow are explored with XFOIL. Predictions are made on static aeroelastic effects. The thin, cambered Generic Micro Aerial Vehicle (GenMAV) airfoil is fabricated with a bimorph actuator. Experimental data are taken with and without aerodynamic loading to validate the computer model. This is accomplished with in-house 2D wind tunnel testing. / Master of Science

The research presented in this thesis uses the macro-fiber composite (MFC) actuator that was recently developed at the NASA Langley Research Center for two major themes, sensing and actuation for vibration control, and power harvesting. The MFC is constructed using piezofibers embedded in an epoxy matrix and coated with Kapton skin. The construction process of the MFC affords it vast advantages over the traditionally used piezoceramic material. The MFC is extremely flexible, allowing it to be bonded to structures that have curved surface without fear of accidental breakage or additional surface treatment as is the case with monolithic piezoceramic materials. Additionally the MFC uses interdigitated electrodes that capitalize on the higher d33 piezoelectric coupling coefficient that allow it to produce higher forces and strain than typical monolithic piezoceramic materials. The research presented in this thesis investigates some potential applications for the MFC as well as topics in power harvesting. This first study performed was to determine if the MFC is capable of being used as a sensor for structural vibration. The MFC was incorporated into a self-sensing circuit and used to provide collocated control of an aluminum beam. It was found that the MFC makes a very accurate sensor and was able to provide the beam with over 80% vibration suppression at its second resonant frequency. Following this work, the MFC was used as both a sensor and actuator to apply multiple-input-multiple-output vibration control of an inflated satellite component. The control system used a positive position feedback (PPF) controller and two pairs of sensors and actuators in order to provide global vibration suppression of an inflated torus. The experiments found that the MFC and control system was very effective at attenuating the vibration of the first mode but ineffective at higher modes. It was found the positioning of the sensors and actuators on the structure contributed heavily to the controller's performance at higher modes. A discussion of the reasons for the controller's ineffectiveness is supply and a solution using self-sensing techniques for collocated vibration suppression was investigated. Subsequent to the research in vibration sensing and control, the ability to use piezoelectric materials to convert ambient vibration into usable electrical energy was tested and quantified. First, a model of a power harvesting beam is developed using variational methods and is validated on a composite structure containing four separate piezoelectric wafers. It is shown that the model can accurately predict the power generated from the vibration of a cantilever beam regardless of the load resistance or excitation frequency. The damping effects of power harvesting on a structure are also demonstrated and discussed using the model. Next, the ability of the piezoelectric material to recharge a battery and a quantification of the power generated are investigated. After determining that the rechargeable battery is compatible with the power generated through the piezoelectric effect, the MFC was compared with the traditional monolithic PZT for use as a power harvesting material. It was found that the MFC produces a very low current, making it less efficient than the PZT material and unable to charge batteries because of their need for relatively large current. Due to the MFC being incapable of charging batteries, only the PZT was used to charge batteries and the charge times for several nickel metal hydride batteries ranging from 40 to 1000mAh are supplied. / Master of Science

In vielen technischen Anwendungen werden Faserverbundwerkstoffe mit Hochleistungsfasern aus Carbon und AR-Glas eingesetzt, die aufgrund ihrer physikalischen und chemischen Eigenschaften ein hohes Festigkeitspotential aufweisen. Damit eröffnen sich neue Anwendungsgebiete, z. B. als textile Bewehrungen für Betonbauteile. Die Garnmaterialien müssen hohe sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen erfüllen. Dazu gehören u. a. eine ausreichende Tragfähigkeit unter Dauerlastbeanspruchung und eine hohe Temperaturbeständigkeit im Brandfall. Zur Spezifizierung dieser Eigenschaften wurden experimentelle Untersuchungen durchgeführt, deren Ergebnisse nachfolgend vorgestellt werden. / Due to their strong mechanical and chemical properties, fiber composite materials composed of high performance carbon and AR-glass fibers lend themselves to many technical applications. Potentially new and innovative application fields should be considered, such as textile reinforcements for concrete components. The yarn materials must meet high technical and safety standards, specifically sufficient load-bearing capabilities under long-term conditions and acceptable strength at high temperatures should fire occur. Research was conducted to document these characteristics. The results are presented in this paper.

The cement boards are commonly used as a filler fir or spruce chips-profit wood. The increasing demands for construction materials forcing technology to develop new types of composite materials using an alternative source of fillers. In this work in the context of theoretical knowledge about the specified fibers in composite systems are discussed properties of cement binder and filler for cement – bonded particleboards and alternative materials. The practical part describes the test methods designed recipes and then made boards of which were carved specimens intended for testing the properties of boards with alternative fillers.

The interlaminar region is a contributing factor to the limited electrical conductivity of carbon fiber/epoxy composites. Consisting of electrically insulating epoxy matrix between conductive layers of carbon fiber, the interlaminar region prevents electrical interaction between the carbon fiber layers and electrical conduction in the through thickness direction.The interlaminar region in thin [0,0] carbon fiber/epoxy composites has been reinforced by carbon nanotubes (CNT) by two methods. First by aligned CNT forests from N12 Technologies and secondly by self-produced Buckypapers, porous CNT films, of different areal densitites. Two batches of laminates modified by aligned CNTs, having different curing conditions, and laminates modified with Buckypapers were manufactured. The laminates were evaluated by their electrical conductivity and electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency (EMI SE). The addition of external pressure to the laminates during curing brought an increase in longitudinal conductivity, a consequence of higher fiber packing. Also, both reinforcement methods increased the longitudinal conductivity through improved electrical interaction between the carbon fiber layers. However, only the Buckypaper reinforcement augmented the transversal conductivity significantly, acting as a highly conductive route in the interlaminar region. Both batches of aligned CNT modified laminates exhibited equal EMI SE, questioning the influence of the conductivity of the laminate on its EMI SE. Also, the increase in EMI SE brought by the aligned CNT forests were negligible compared to the reference. However, the reinforcement by Buckypapers proved successful, reaching -45/-50 dB at 1000 MHz, improving from 30 dB of the unmodified reference at the same frequency.

In vielen technischen Anwendungen werden Faserverbundwerkstoffe mit Hochleistungsfasern aus Carbon und AR-Glas eingesetzt, die aufgrund ihrer physikalischen und chemischen Eigenschaften ein hohes Festigkeitspotential aufweisen. Damit eröffnen sich neue Anwendungsgebiete, z. B. als textile Bewehrungen für Betonbauteile. Die Garnmaterialien müssen hohe sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen erfüllen. Dazu gehören u. a. eine ausreichende Tragfähigkeit unter Dauerlastbeanspruchung und eine hohe Temperaturbeständigkeit im Brandfall. Zur Spezifizierung dieser Eigenschaften wurden experimentelle Untersuchungen durchgeführt, deren Ergebnisse nachfolgend vorgestellt werden. / Due to their strong mechanical and chemical properties, fiber composite materials composed of high performance carbon and AR-glass fibers lend themselves to many technical applications. Potentially new and innovative application fields should be considered, such as textile reinforcements for concrete components. The yarn materials must meet high technical and safety standards, specifically sufficient load-bearing capabilities under long-term conditions and acceptable strength at high temperatures should fire occur. Research was conducted to document these characteristics. The results are presented in this paper.

A material’s Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE) is a valuable physical property, particularly for structural fiber reinforced composites that are routinely used in satellite/aerospace applications. Satellite space structures are routinely designed with a high degree of dimensional and thermal stability. Designing and verifying for near zero CTE performance is a common design requirement. The CTE is routinely a physical property with known values for common materials. However, the strength, stiffness and CTE properties on a multi-ply graphite fiber reinforced laminate composite can be tailored to specific engineering requirements. Because of this, a method of verification (testing) is routinely performed to ensure these requirements are met.

Zur Erweiterung der Grundlagenkenntnisse für diese beiden bisher wenig genutzten Verstärkungsfasern werden in dieser Arbeit Einzelfaserzugversuche durchgeführt, um den Einfluss der Prüfbedingungen und der Faseroberflächenbehandlungen auf die mechanischen Eigenschaften der Fasern zu charakterisieren. Durch die Analysen der unimodalen und bimodalen Weibullverteilung wird der Zusammenhang zwischen der Faserzugfestigkeit und den kritischen Oberflächendefekten untersucht. Um den Einfluss der Faseroberflächenbehandlungen auf die Oberflächenenergien und Grenzflächenhaftung zu ermitteln, werden in dieser Arbeit der Schlichteauftrag aus wässriger Phase (Silan, Filmbildner), Plasmabehandlungen in verschiedenen Medien, Excimer-UV-Bestrahlungen in Anwesenheit verschiedener Monomeren und eine Säurebehandlung durchgeführt. Zur Charakterisierung der Oberflächentopografie der oberflächenbehandelten Fasern vor und nach dem Einzelfaserauszugversuch wird die Rasterkraftmikroskopie (AFM) verwendet. Der Effekt einer Plasmabehandlung auf die freie Oberflächenenergie der PBO-Fasern und die Grenzflächenscherfestigkeit wird mittels der Kontaktwinkelmessung und der Einzelfaserauszugprüfung untersucht. Um die durch diese Oberflächenmodifizierungen hervorgerufenen Veränderungen der mechanischen Verbundeigenschaften sowie der Faser-Matrix-Haftung zu charakterisieren, werden in dieser Arbeit sowohl endlosfaserverstärkte thermoplastische und duroplastische Unidirektionalverbunde bzw. kurzfaserverstärkte thermoplastische Verbunde als Modellfälle betrachtet, bei denen sowohl die Verstärkungsfasern als auch die Matrix signifikant unterschiedlich sind. Zur Verstärkung werden zwei ausgewählte Fasermaterialien (Basalt- und PBO-Fasern) und als Matrix zwei Thermoplaste (PP und PA6) sowie ein Epoxidharz ausgewählt. Der Einsatz von Commingling-Hybridfäden zur Entwicklung der thermoplastischen Unidirektionalverbunde erfordert Voruntersuchungen zur Lufttexturierung mit verschiedenen Düsen und Auswahl der günstigsten Prozessparameter.

The application of carbon reinforced-fiber polymers (CFRP) to structures is a new development that is still under intense research. However, the rehabilitation or retrofit of damage reinforced concrete members by the external bonding of CFRP is becoming increasingly popular in the construction industry. The objective of the tests presented in this thesis is to study different CFRP designs on the reinforced concrete beams and compare their failure modes. The main goal is to determine the CFRP design on the reinforced concrete beams that result in a progressive and gradual failure mode with enough warning before final failure. Different CFRP designs are investigated and compared with theoretical predictions. A retrofitting concept is also employed in this research. The retrofitting concept is the idea of strengthening cracked structures. The strengthening of the beams performed in the lab is carried out under sustained loads and on previously cracking the beams to simulate the realistic case that is usually faced in practice on the field. The RC beams are strengthened in flexure to double their flexural capacity by applying the adequate amounts of CFRP to the tension face of the beams. Due to the CFRP strengthening and increasing the strength capacity of the beams, different CFRP anchorage methods are employed to the beams for additional shear reinforcement to ensure flexural failure. The different CFRP anchorage methods will also be observed for their effectiveness during the debonding and propagation mechanism as well as evaluated for their progressive failure mode.

In most man-made flight, vehicle control is achieved by deflecting flaps. However, in nature, morphing surfaces are found on both flying and swimming creatures. Morphing is used in nature because it is a more efficient form of control. This thesis investigates using morphing flaps to control a class of UAVs known as ducted fan vehicles. Specifically, this thesis discusses both the challenges and benefits of using morphing control surfaces. To achieve morphing, a piezoelectric device known as Macro Fiber Composites is used. These devices are embedded in the skin of the vehicles control surface, and when actuated, they cause the control surface to increase or decrease camber. This thesis describes experiments that were performed to investigate the performance of this type of actuator. Specifically, the actuation bandwidth of these devices is presented and compared to a servo. Results show that the morphing control surfaces can actuate at frequencies twice as high as a servo. / Master of Science