The dynamic response of subsurface cracks in fiber reinforced composites is analytically studied. The response of layered half-space and three-layered plate with two interface cracks excited by a plane SH-wave and line load respectively are studied by formulating the problem as integral equations in the frequency domain. The governing equations along with boundary, regularity and continuity conditions across the interface are reduced to a coupled set of singular integral equations by using Betti's reciprocal theorem along with the Green's functions. In addition, the transient response of an orthotropic half-space with a subsurface crack subjected to inplane line load at an arbitrary angle is analyzed. Two new Green's functions for the uncracked medium are developed and used along with the representation theorem to derive the scattered field. Satisfaction of the traction free condition at the crack surfaces gives rise to a system of singular integral equations. Singular integrals involved in the analysis are computed numerically by removing the poles. Part of the integrals containing the poles are then obtained analytically by using residue theorem. The solution of singular integral equations are obtained by expanding the unknown crack opening displacements (COD) in terms of a complete set of Chebychev polynomials. The problem is first solved in the frequency domain, the time histories are then obtained numerically by inverting the spectra via Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) routine. Numerical results are presented for isotropic and anisotropic materials for several different crack geometries. The results show significant influence of crack geometries and material properties on the COD and surface response of composites.

L'utilisation de limiteurs de localisation est nécessaire pour prendre en compte l'apparition de macro-fissures lors de la simulation de l'évolution des dégradations dans les matériaux composites stratifiés en accord avec des expérimentations. Ceux-ci introduisent un paramètre qui peut être relié à une longueur, ou un temps caractéristique, qui peut alors être identifié. L'approche introduite au LMT-Cachan consiste, dans le cadre dynamique, à utiliser un modèle d'endommagement retardé. Elle est basée sur le fait qu'une fissure ne peut pas apparaître instantanément. Ce modèle donne d'excellents résultats en restant dans le cadre de la dynamique et a l'avantage d'être local en espace. Cependant il requiert une discrétisation temporelle de la taille du temps caractéristique introduit (de l'ordre de la microseconde pour les composites), qui le rend inexploitable pour des simulations de chargement en quasi-statique. Les simulations dans ces cas de chargement nécessitent donc l'utilisation d'un temps caractéristique différent de celui identifié qui ne permet plus de maintenir un résultat en accord avec l'expérience. On cherche alors à adapter les paramètres de la loi d'évolution de l'endommagement afin d'obtenir une propagation de la macro-fissure dans la zone localisée qui soit compatible énergétiquement avec la mécanique de la rupture en contrôlant le taux de restitution d'énergie. Ce travail est dédié à maintenir l'objectivité de la solution et à adapter l'énergie dissipé à la mécanique de la rupture afin de pouvoir utiliser un temps caractéristique exploitable lors de simulations d'éprouvettes en composites sous un chargement quasi-statique. / The use of localization limiters is needed to take into account the apparition of macro-cracks during the simulation of the evolution of degradations in laminated composite materials with respect to experiments. Those introduce a parameter which can be related to a characteristic length, or a characteristic time, and therefore be identified. The approach introduced at LMT-Cachan is, in dynamics, to use a delayed damage model. It's based on the fact that a crack can't appear instantaneously. This model gives excellent results in dynamics and has the advantage to be local in space. Unfortunately, it requires a time discretization related to the characteristic time introduced (of the order of a microsecond for composites), which is far too computationally expensive for quasi-static simulations. Simulations in these loading cases need the use of a different characteristic time from the one identified which can't maintain anymore a result in accordance to experiments. We then adapt the parameters of the damage evolution law to obtain a propagation of a macro-crack in the localized zone that is energetically compatible with fracture mechanics by controlling the strain energy release rate. This work is dedicated to maintain the objectivity of the solution and to adapt the dissipated energy to fracture mechanics to be able to use a characteristic time exploitable for the simulation of composite samples under quasi-static loading.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. / The objective of this study was to develop an analytical model of the basic hierarchical structure of the human bone. The model computed the stiffness of composite collagen fibers comprised of collagen fibrils and hydroxyapatite mineral crystals. Next, the stiffness of the concentric lamella was computed utilizing the stiffness of the collagen fibers and layer information. Finally, the effective stiffness of the bone was estimated. In order to determine the stiffness of the collagen fiber, a three-dimensional finite element model was developed and a simple analytical model was derived. The simple analytical model was validated using the finite element results. The lamination theory of unidirectional fibrous composites was used to calculate the stiffness of the lamella and eventually the bone stiffness. A series of parametric studies were conducted to understand what parameter(s) affected the stiffness of the bone most significantly. This information will be useful when an artificial bone structure is designed. / http://hdl.handle.net/10945/1123 / Lieutenant, United States Navy

O trabalho tem por objetivo o estudo teórico e experimental de pontes protendidas de madeira para pequenos vãos utilizando madeiras de reflorestamento. Para esta finalidade foram avaliados os parâmetros elásticos destas madeiras e o efeito da presença de juntas de topo na rigidez longitudinal do tabuleiro da ponte. A metodologia utilizada para obter os parâmetros elásticos é a experimentação em laboratório de placas ortotrópicas submetidas à torção. Os efeitos das juntas de topo foi verificado em ensaio de modelo reduzido e comparado a uma simulação numérica em computador utilizando o programa AnSYS 5.2 de elementos finitos, módulo Shell, com propriedades ortotrópicas. Finalmente é proposto um critério de dimensionamento para estas estruturas a partir dos resultados experimentais obtidos e de disposições de códigos internacionais. / The aim of this work is the theoretical and experimental study of prestressed timber bridges to small spans using reforestation species. To this purpose elastics characteristics are analysed as well the butt joint effects on timber deck stiffeness. The experimental methodology was used to find the elastics characteristics is torsional tests in orthotropic plates. The butt joints effects was made in a reduced model and the results compared with a computer numerical analysis using the software AnSYS 5.2, shell module, with ortotropic characteristics. Finally, a design criteria was proposed to these structures using the experimental results obtained and the international codes recomendations.

The compressive behavior of continuous fiber composites is not as well understood as their tensile behavior because research and industrial applications have until recently focused on the latter. Furthermore, most theoretical and experimental studies on the compression of composites have examined the case of unidirectional specimens with fibers along the loading direction (0�� fibers). While this is a logical approach since it isolates the failure mode specific to this geometry (kinking), the study of multidirectional laminates is essential because these are used in all practical applications. Few theories model the compressive behavior of multidirectional laminates. None of the theories account for the stress field or the sequence and interaction of the various observed failure modes (kinking, delamination, matrix failure) specific to the multidirectional configuration. The principal objective of this investigation is to construct a realistic theory to model the compressive behavior of multidirectional composites. Compression experiments have repeatedly shown that the initial failure mode was in-plane kinking of 0�� fibers initiated at the edges of the specimens. We decided to base our compressive failure theory upon interlaminar stresses because in multidirectional laminates these are known to exist in a boundary layer along the edges. This required development of an analytical theory giving the amplitude of these stresses at the free edges. We then incorporated these stresses into a new general microbuckling equation for 0�� fibers. The global laminate failure strain was determined through several fiber and matrix failure criteria. Theoretical predictions were compared with experimental results obtained from compression testing of graphite/thermoplastic laminates with the same ply sequence but different off-axis ply angles. The theory correlated well with experiments and confirmed that in-plane kinking was the critical failure mode at low and medium angles, while revealing that out-of-plane buckling was responsible for failure at high angles. Furthermore, the theory correctly predicted the sequence of various fiber and matrix failure modes. / Graduation date: 1997

Graduation date: 1994

The validity of the dynamic analysis based on simplified plate model was investigated using of FE-codes ANSYS in the present paper. The simplified clamped multi-layered plate model was first verified by comparison with the exact model. The simply supported plate model was confirmed to be not a suitable model due to its large error as comparing with exact model. Influence of dimensions of laminar diaphragm on nature frequencies was studied. Deflection and voltage response driven by mechanical and electric loads were described. The optimized thickness ratio of PZT layer to SiO₂ and Si layers was given in the paper to obtain the best deflection export of actuator in design. / Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA)

Thesis (M.Phil.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available in electronic version.

In the design of cryogenic fuel tanks for the next generation Reusable Launch Vehicles (RLVs), the permeability of liquid hydrogen (LH2) across the thickness of the tank is a critical issue. The rate of permeation of LH2 is largely dependent on the internal damage state of the composite tank wall. Damage in the form of matrix cracks in the composite material of the tank is responsible for the through-the-thickness permeation of LH2. In this context, the detection of matrix cracks takes on an unprecedented significance. In this work, an ultrasonic technique for the ply-by-ply detection of matrix cracks in laminated composites is developed. Experimental results are presented for graphite/epoxy laminates with different lay-ups and laminate thicknesses. Matrix cracks in each of the plies of the laminated composites were detected even when there was a rather high density of cracks in all of the plies. The ultrasonic data were calibrated by comparing them with the corresponding results obtained by using the traditional methods of optical microscopy and penetrant enhanced X-radiography. Excellent quantitative correlation was observed between the results obtained with ultrasonics and the traditional methods.

In the design of cryogenic fuel tanks for the next generation Reusable Launch Vehicles (RLVs), the permeability of liquid hydrogen (LH2) across the thickness of the tank is a critical issue. The rate of permeation of LH2 is largely dependent on the internal damage state of the composite tank wall. Damage in the form of matrix cracks in the composite material of the tank is responsible for the through-the-thickness permeation of LH2. In this context, the detection of matrix cracks takes on an unprecedented significance. In this work, an ultrasonic technique for the ply-by-ply detection of matrix cracks in laminated composites is developed. Experimental results are presented for graphite/epoxy laminates with different lay-ups and laminate thicknesses. Matrix cracks in each of the plies of the laminated composites were detected even when there was a rather high density of cracks in all of the plies. The ultrasonic data were calibrated by comparing them with the corresponding results obtained by using the traditional methods of optical microscopy and penetrant enhanced X-radiography. Excellent quantitative correlation was observed between the results obtained with ultrasonics and the traditional methods.