Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Delaware, 2006. / Principal faculty advisor: Jack R. Vinson, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering. Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.

The success of harnessing energy from ocean current will require a reliable structural design of turbine blade that is used for energy extraction. In this study we are particularly focusing on the fatigue life of a 3m length ocean current turbine blade. The blade consists of sandwich construction having polymeric foam as core, and carbon/epoxy as face sheet. Repetitive loads (Fatigue) on the blade have been formulated from the randomness of the ocean current associated with turbulence and also from velocity shear. These varying forces will cause a cyclic variation of bending and shear stresses subjecting to the blade to fatigue. Rainflow Counting algorithm has been used to count the number of cycles within a specific mean and amplitude that will act on the blade from random loading data. Finite Element code ANSYS has been used to develop an S-N diagram with a frequency of 1 Hz and loading ratio 0.1 Number of specific load cycles from Rainflow Counting in conjunction with S-N diagram from ANSYS has been utilized to calculate fatigue damage up to 30 years by Palmgren-Miner's linear hypothesis. / by Mohammad Wasim Akram. / Thesis (M.S.C.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2010. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2010. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Rapportens huvudsyfte är att ta fram en isoleringskombination av högpresterande material, som ska bidra till ett förbättrat U-värde och reducerad väggtjocklek. Konstruktionen är baserad på en befintlig sandwichvägg från Strängbetong, där författarna ersatt den ursprungliga isoleringen med det utvecklade isolerskiktet för att slutligen studera väggarna med lika villkor. Den framtagna väggens isolerings- förmåga presenteras genom handberäkningar, där det erhålls U-värde och temperaturfördelningar mellan elementens olika skikt vid stationära förhållanden. Det har även utförts värmesimuleringar för att analysera samma fysikaliska faktorer dock baserat på 3D förhållanden. I samarbete med företag har flera högpresterande isoleringsmaterial valts ut att ingå i väggkonstruktionen. Genom fördjupade studier av materialens fysikaliska egenskaper kunde en komplett isoleringskombination utvecklas och fick namnet InsuFlex. InsuFlex applicerades sedan i en sandwichkonstruktion för vidare analyser och värmesimuleringar. De nya väggresultaten visade mycket goda förbättringar av den ursprungliga sandwichväggen, tack vare det utvecklade skiktet av InsuFlex. Genom utförda beräkningar kunde författarna konstatera att isoleringsförmågan förbättrats med 46,5- samt 29 %, samtidigt som tjockleken reducerats med 5,5- samt 16,5 %, i jämförelse med Strängbetongs befintliga produkt. Den nya väggen erbjuder goda förutsättningar att reducera energiförlusterna och komma närmare framtida energikrav. Isoleringsmetoden förväntas även kunna appliceras i flera olika konstruktionselement. / The main objective of this report is development of an insulation-layer of high performance materials for a sandwich structure, which will contribute to an improved U-value and reduced wall thickness. The design is based on an existing sandwich wall, where the authors replaced the original insulation with the developed insulation-layer, to study the walls with equal conditions. The insulating ability is presented through calculations and thermal simulation to analyze the thermal aspects of the stationary conditions and 3D conditions. A complete insulation combination was developed through extensive studies of material’s physical properties, and named “InsuFlex”. The insulation-layer was then applied in a sandwich construction for further analysis and thermal simulations. The new design showed improvements in several areas.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2007. / Description based on contents viewed July 8, 2009; title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references (p. 115-116).

Favorable properties of Balsa wood make it an interesting alternative in a number of applications including thermal insulation or as a lightweight core material in sandwich composites. Increasing use in construction necessitates a better understanding of its mechanical and failure properties. In the present work, mode I and mode II fracture toughness for different types of balsa wood and a sandwich structure (balsa as core and fiber glass as skin layer) are studied experimentally by using load-displacement diagrams and visually acquired crack growth data. / Graduation date: 2013

This thesis helps develop a material model for a novel Fiber Core SandwichSheet construction. A test method was used to determine the mechanicalproperties of the sandwich material. Standard three point bendingtests coupled with digital image correlation was used. Results wereextracted from the digital image data. These results supplemented thedevelopment and tuning of an FE model of the sandwich material. Conclusionswere drawn about the feasibility of the method in studying sucha material. / Denna avhandling genomfördes mot utvecklingen av en homogeniseradmaterialmodell för en ny sandwich-konstruktion med fiberkärna. En testmetodanvändes för att bestämma de mekaniska egenskaperna hos sandwichmaterialet.Testmetoden involverade trepunkts i kombination meddigital bildkorrelation. Resultaten extraherades från den digitala bilddatanvid genomförande av trepunkts. Dessa resultat användes utvecklingenav en FE-modell av sandwichmaterialet. Slutsatser drogs om tillämplighetenav metoden för att studera ett sådant material.

Estruturas sanduíche possuem aplicações em diferentes áreas, tais como as indústrias: automotiva, naval, aeronáutica e moveleira. As razões da sua utilização vão desde a elevada eficiência estrutural até o baixo custo. Na indústria automotiva, elas são usadas em veículos convencionais, bem como em esportivos de alto desempenho. Uma alternativa de baixo custo são estruturas sanduíche com núcleos feitos em papel celulose e faces em materiais compostos termoplásticos. Alguns automóveis utilizam esses materiais em componentes com forma plana ou pequenas curvaturas. Os principais objetivos de usá-los são a redução do peso, o aumento da reciclabilidade e o projeto multifuncional (funções ambiental, estética, acústica, térmica e estrutural, simultaneamente). No entanto, uma das dificuldades que surge no projeto destes componentes é a previsão do comportamento estrutural, uma vez que tais materiais são difíceis de caracterizar experimentalmente. Assim, neste trabalho, são apresentados alguns métodos para avaliar as propriedades elásticas de sanduíches com núcleo hexagonal (estrutura colméia) e senoidal em papel e faces em não-tecido de polipropileno com fibras de vidro. As propriedades elásticas equivalentes longitudinais do núcleo são obtidas através de um modelo de elementos finitos de viga, que é validado com um método analítico para células hexagonais. Quanto às propriedades transversais, é utilizado um procedimento experimental, onde os núcleos com células senoidais são testados em uma máquina de tração. Neste caso, as dimensões das células são alteradas, bem como as gramaturas dos papéis. As propriedades equivalentes das faces são obtidas através de um modelo de elementos finitos planos. / Sandwich structures are used in various areas of application such as the automotive, marine, aeronautical and furniture industries. The reasons for their use range from the high structural efficiency to low cost. In the automotive industry, they are used in conventional vehicles as well as in high-end sports cars. An alternative of low-cost structures is that of cores made of cellulose paper and faces of thermoplastic composites. Some vehicles already use these materials in parts with flat shape or with small curvatures. The main purposes of using them are the reduction of the total weight of the vehicle, the increase of recyclability and the multifunctional design (environmental, aesthetic, acoustic, thermal and structural functions simultaneously). However, one of the difficulties that arises in the design of these components is the prediction of their structural behavior, since such materials are difficult to characterize. So, this work presents some methods to assess the elastic properties of sandwich cores composed of hexagonal (honeycomb) and sinusoidal cells of Testliner paper and faces of polypropylene/fiberglass nonwoven. The in-plane equivalent elastic properties of the core are obtained through a numerical finite element beam model, which is validated with an analytical method for hexagonal cells. For the out-of-plane equivalent properties, an experimental procedure is carried on, where sinusoidal cell cores are tested on a traction machine. In this case, the dimensions of the cell are changed, as well as the grammages of the papers. The equivalent elastic properties of the face are obtained through a numerical plane finite element model.

Estruturas sanduíche possuem aplicações em diferentes áreas, tais como as indústrias: automotiva, naval, aeronáutica e moveleira. As razões da sua utilização vão desde a elevada eficiência estrutural até o baixo custo. Na indústria automotiva, elas são usadas em veículos convencionais, bem como em esportivos de alto desempenho. Uma alternativa de baixo custo são estruturas sanduíche com núcleos feitos em papel celulose e faces em materiais compostos termoplásticos. Alguns automóveis utilizam esses materiais em componentes com forma plana ou pequenas curvaturas. Os principais objetivos de usá-los são a redução do peso, o aumento da reciclabilidade e o projeto multifuncional (funções ambiental, estética, acústica, térmica e estrutural, simultaneamente). No entanto, uma das dificuldades que surge no projeto destes componentes é a previsão do comportamento estrutural, uma vez que tais materiais são difíceis de caracterizar experimentalmente. Assim, neste trabalho, são apresentados alguns métodos para avaliar as propriedades elásticas de sanduíches com núcleo hexagonal (estrutura colméia) e senoidal em papel e faces em não-tecido de polipropileno com fibras de vidro. As propriedades elásticas equivalentes longitudinais do núcleo são obtidas através de um modelo de elementos finitos de viga, que é validado com um método analítico para células hexagonais. Quanto às propriedades transversais, é utilizado um procedimento experimental, onde os núcleos com células senoidais são testados em uma máquina de tração. Neste caso, as dimensões das células são alteradas, bem como as gramaturas dos papéis. As propriedades equivalentes das faces são obtidas através de um modelo de elementos finitos planos. / Sandwich structures are used in various areas of application such as the automotive, marine, aeronautical and furniture industries. The reasons for their use range from the high structural efficiency to low cost. In the automotive industry, they are used in conventional vehicles as well as in high-end sports cars. An alternative of low-cost structures is that of cores made of cellulose paper and faces of thermoplastic composites. Some vehicles already use these materials in parts with flat shape or with small curvatures. The main purposes of using them are the reduction of the total weight of the vehicle, the increase of recyclability and the multifunctional design (environmental, aesthetic, acoustic, thermal and structural functions simultaneously). However, one of the difficulties that arises in the design of these components is the prediction of their structural behavior, since such materials are difficult to characterize. So, this work presents some methods to assess the elastic properties of sandwich cores composed of hexagonal (honeycomb) and sinusoidal cells of Testliner paper and faces of polypropylene/fiberglass nonwoven. The in-plane equivalent elastic properties of the core are obtained through a numerical finite element beam model, which is validated with an analytical method for hexagonal cells. For the out-of-plane equivalent properties, an experimental procedure is carried on, where sinusoidal cell cores are tested on a traction machine. In this case, the dimensions of the cell are changed, as well as the grammages of the papers. The equivalent elastic properties of the face are obtained through a numerical plane finite element model.

Sandwich constructions are the most commonly used structures in aircraft and navy industries, traditionally. These structures are made up of the face sheets and the core, where the face sheets will be taking the load and is connected to other structural members, while the soft core material, will be used to absorb energy during impact like situation. Thus, sandwich constructions are mainly employed in light weight structures where the high energy absorption capability is required. Generally the face sheets will be thin, made up of either metallic or composite material with high stiffness and strength, while the core is light in weight, made up of soft material. Cores generally play very crucial role in achieving the desired properties of sandwich structures, either through geometric arrangement or material properties or both. Foams are in extensive use nowadays as core material due to the ease in manufacturing and their low cost. They are extensively used in automotive and industrial field applications as the desired foam density can be fabricated by adjusting the mixing, curing and heat sink processes. Modeling of sandwich beams play a crucial role in their design with suitable finite elements for face sheets and core, to ensure the compatibility between degrees of freedom at the interfaces. Unless the mathematical model simulates the physics of the model in terms of kinematics, boundary and loading conditions, results predicted will not be accurate. Accurate models helps in obtaining an efficient design of sandwich beams. In Structural Health Monitoring studies, the responses under the impact loading will be captured by carrying out the wave propagation analysis. The loads applied will be for a shorter duration (in the orders of micro seconds), where higher frequency modes will be excited. Wavelengths at such high frequencies are very small and hence, in such cases, very fine mesh generally is employed matching the wavelength requirement of the propagating wave. Traditional Finite element softwares takes enormous time and computational e ort to provide the solution. Various possible models and modeling aspects using the existing Finite element tools for wave propagation analysis are studied in the present work. There exists a huge demand for an accurate, efficient and rapidly convergent finite elements for the analysis of sandwich beams. E orts are made in the present work to address these issues and provide a solution to the sandwich user community. Super convergent and Spectral Finite sandwich Beam Elements with metallic or composite face sheets and soft core are developed. As a philosophy, the sandwich beam finite element is constructed with the combination of two beams representing the face sheets (top and bottom) at their neutral axis. The core effects are captured at the interface boundaries in terms of shear stress and normal transverse stress. In the case of wave propagation analysis, the equations are coupled in time domain and spatial domain and solving them directly is a difficult task. In Spectral Finite Element Method(SFEM), the displacement functions are derived by solving the transformed governing equations in the frequency domain. By transforming them and forces from time domain to frequency domain, the coupled partial differential equations will become coupled ordinary differential equations. These equations in frequency domain, can be solved exactly as they are normally ordinary differential equation with constant coefficients with frequency entering as a parameter. These solutions will be used as interpolating functions for spectral element formulation and in this respect it differs from conventional FE method wherein mostly polynomials are used as interpolating functions. In addition, SFEM solutions are expressed in terms of forward and backward moving waves for all the degrees of freedom involved in the formulations and hence, SFEM provides faster and efficient solutions for wave propagation analysis. In the present work, strong form of the governing differential equations are derived for a given system using Hamilton's principle. Super Convergent elements are developed by solving the static part of the governing differential equations exactly and hence the stiffness matrix derived is exact for point static loads. For wave propagation analysis, as the mass is not exactly represented, these elements are required in the optimal numbers for getting good results. The number of these elements required are generally much lesser than the number of elements required using traditional finite elements since the stiffness distribution is exact. Spectral elements are developed by solving the governing equations exactly in the frequency domain and hence the dynamic stiffness matrix derived is exact for the dynamic loads. Hence, one element between any two joints is enough to solve the whole system under impact loads for simple structures. Developing FE for sandwich beams is quiet challenging. Due to small thickness, the face sheets can be modeled using 1D idealization, while modeling of large core requires 2-D idealization. Hence, most finite or spectral elements requires stitching of these two idealizations into 1-D idealization, which can be accomplished in a variety of ways, some of which are highlighted in this thesis. Variety of finite and spectral finite elements are developed considering Euler and Timoshenko beam theories for modeling the sandwich beams. Simple element models are built with rigid core in both the theories. Models are also developed considering the flexible core with the variation of transverse displacements across depth of the core. This has direct influence on shear stress variation and also transverse normal stress in the core. Simple to higher order models are developed considering different variations in shear stress and transverse normal stress across depth of the core. Development of super convergent finite Euler Bernoulli beam elements Eul4d (4 dof element), Eul10d (10 dof element) are explained along with their results in Chapter 2. Development of different super convergent finite Timoshenko beam elements namely Tim4d (4 dof), Tim7d (7 dof), Tim10d (10 dof) are explained in Chapter 3. Validation of Euler Bernoulli and Timoshenko elements developed in the present work is carried out with test cases available in the open literature for displacements and free vibration frequencies are presented in Chapter 2 and Chapter 3. The results indicates that all developed elements are performing exceedingly well for static loads and free vibration. Super convergence performance for the elements developed is demonstrated with related examples. Spectral elements based on Timoshenko theory STim7d, STim6d, STim6dF are developed and the wave propagation characteristics studies are presented in Chapter 4. Euler spectral elements are derived from Timoshenko spectral elements by enforcing in finite shear rigidity, designated as SEul7d, SEul6d, SEul6dF and are presented. E orts were made in this present work to model the horizontal cracks in top or bottom face sheets using the spectral elements and the methodology is presented in Chapter 4. Wave propagation analysis using general purpose software N AST RAN and the super convergent as well as spectral elements developed in this work, are discussed in detail in Chapter 5. Modeling aspects of sandwich beam in N AST RAN using various combination of elements available and the performance of four possible models simulated were studied. Validation of all four models in N AST RAN, Super convergent Euler, Timoshenko and Spectral Timoshenko finite elements was carried out by simulating a homogenous I beam by comparing the longitudinal and transverse responses. Studies were carried out to find out the response predictions of a sandwich beam with soft core and all the predictions were compared and discussed. The responses in case of cracks in top or bottom face sheets under the longitudinal and transverse loading were studied in this chapter. In Chapter 6, Parametric studies were carried out for bringing out the sensitiveness of the important specific parameters in overall behaviour and performance of a sandwich beam, using Super convergent and Spectral elements developed. This chapter clearly brings out the various aspects of design of sandwich beam such as material selection of core, geometrical configuration of overall beam and core. Effects of shear modulus, mass density on wave propagation characteristics, effects of thick or thin cores with reference to the face sheets and dynamic effects of core are highlighted. Wave propagation characteristics studies includes the study of wave numbers, group speeds, cut off frequencies for a given configuration and identification of frequency zone of operations. The recommendations for improvement in design of sandwich beams based on the parametric studies are made at the end of chapter. The entire thesis, written in seven Chapters, presents a unified treatment of sandwich beam analysis that will be very useful for designers working in the area.