The tensile behavior of two ceramic matrix composites (CMC's) was observed. The materials of interest in this study were a glass-ceramic matrix composite (GCMC) reinforced with Nicalon fibers and a Blackglas™ composite also reinforced with Nicalon fibers. Both had a symmetric cross-ply layup. Initial observations of the composites showed significant porosity and some cracking in the Blackglas™ samples. The GCMC samples showed considerably less damage. From the observed tensile behavior of the cross-ply composites, a 'back-out' factor for determining the 0° ply data of the composite was calculated using Classical Lamination Theory (CLT). The predicted behavior of the 0° ply was then compared to actual data supplied by McDonnell Douglas Corporation. While the Blackglas™ material showed good correlation, the GCMC did not. Analysis indicates that the applicability of this technique is strongly influenced by the initial microstructure of the composite, i.e., porosity, cracking. Fracture mirror measurements were also observed to determine the in-situ strength of the Nicalon fibers. Resulting characteristic strength and Weibull modulus values combined with measured fiber pullout lengths were then used to determine material parameters such as the ultimate tensile strength, strain to failure, work of pullout, sliding distance at the characteristic strength, and interfacial shear stress. Comparisons of measured and calculated ultimate tensile strengths and strains to failure showed good agreement. This research was sponsored by the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) in Dahlgren VA. / Master of Science

The master thesis describes application of a sandwich construction for Formula Student car. It will replace the current tubular space frame according to FSAE rules. The introduction is focused on the information of international Formula Student competition, including TU Brno Racing Team. Then there are important rules for the construction of frames and composite monocoques. For the selected production technology are found strength properties of face sheets made of carbon and hybrid fibres. Another part of thesis deals with the design of the sandwich panel using analytical calculation to determine the bending stiffness. On the basis of these proposals are made three-point bending and shear tests. Using of FEM simulation is detected torsional stiffness of the tubular space frame and the monocoque concept from the proposed sandwich panels. The conclusion is devoted to a summary of the important information and possible monocoque manufacturing process.

Submitted by Verena Bastos (verena@uefs.br) on 2015-08-05T21:29:18Z No. of bitstreams: 1 NEVES_JB_2012_R2.pdf: 2142681 bytes, checksum: 2f1f8d4679734685ccd9edf621f7b8c4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-08-05T21:29:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 NEVES_JB_2012_R2.pdf: 2142681 bytes, checksum: 2f1f8d4679734685ccd9edf621f7b8c4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-09-24 / Funda??o de Amparo ? Pesquisa do Estado de S?o Paulo - FAPESP / The prediction of the reinforced concrete beams behavior under bending is essential to design these elements. Usually the models do not incorporate the concrete stress contribution, which may underestimate the structural element strain that use steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) under permanent or temporary loads. This work presents a variational formulation based on the finite difference energy method (EFDM) in predicting the flexural behavior of concrete beams reinforced, that uses SFRC. The proposed model uses the classical lamination theory (CLT) with a damage model (Mazars, 1984) applied to the SFRC. The reinforcement was considered as a layer of a perfect elastic-plastic material. Comparing the load-displacement numerical results with those of the literature to reinforced concrete beams demonstrates the consistency of the proposed model. / A previs?o do comportamento de vigas de concreto armado sob flex?o ? fundamental para o adequado dimensionamento destes elementos. Usualmente, os modelos n?o incorporam a contribui??o do concreto tracionado, o que pode subestimar as deforma??es no elemento estrutural que utilizem o concreto refor?ado com fibras (CRFA) sob cargas de curta e longa dura??o. No presente trabalho ? apresentada uma formula??o variacional com base no m?todo das diferen?as finitas energ?ticas (MDFE) para a previs?o do comportamento ? flex?o de vigas de concreto simples ou armado refor?adas com fibras de a?o. O modelo proposto combina a teoria cl?ssica de laminados (TCL) com um modelo de dano (Mazars, 1984) aplicado ao concreto. O refor?o (armadura longitudinal) foi considerado como uma l?mina de um material elasto-pl?stico perfeito. A compara??o dos resultados num?ricos com resultados encontrados na literatura para vigas de concreto armado, em termos de cargadeslocamento, demonstra a coer?ncia do modelo proposto.