This thesis utilized a linear analytical approach to explore the damage tolerance or residual strength as a function of increasing damage in traditional single and hybrid-grid IsoTruss® structures. Residual strength was studied for structures subjected to axial compression, torsion and flexural bending, independently. Carbon/epoxy material properties were applied in all load cases, and fiberglass/epoxy material properties were also applied in the flexural bending case. Prior to imposing damage conditions, the IsoTruss® structures were parametrically optimized to achieve the highest strength-to-weight ratios. Typical compression strut, driveshaft, and utility pole specifications governed the design strength dimensions and boundary conditions. Damage growth was achieved by removing members from IsoTruss® structures progressively about the circumference in a symmetrical manner. The sequence of member removal, beginning with primary or secondary members, was examined, and is described as primary and secondary analyses. ABAQUS finite element analysis was employed to quantify the residual strength of each IsoTruss® configuration. Reduction in residual strength trends are compared to net section strength, which assumes a linear relationship between damage size and residual strength. Results indicate that the 6-node IsoTruss® configuration is the most damage tolerant structure in the sense that the 6-node configuration deviates the least from the net section strength. As more nodes are added, IsoTruss® structures behave more like a composite tube, exhibiting a brittle behavior characterized by an increase in strength reduction for a given damage size. Bending results reveal that carbon fiber IsoTruss® structures are more damage tolerant under primary bending conditions than fiberglass poles. On the other hand, fiberglass IsoTruss® poles prove to be more damage tolerant under secondary bending conditions than carbon fiber structures. Most importantly, however, hybrid-grid IsoTruss® poles are definitively more optimal structures than single-grid poles in terms of both strength-to-weight ratio and damage tolerance. The results and conclusions from this thesis provide benchmark capacities for mechanically manufactured IsoTruss® structures. Also included in this thesis is documentation of a special program written to analyze IsoTruss® structures.

This research work has contributed in various ways to help develop a better understanding of textile composites and materials with complex microstructures in general. An instrumental part of this work was the development of an object-oriented framework that made it convenient to perform multiscale/multiphysics analyses of advanced materials with complex microstructures such as textile composites. In addition to the studies conducted in this work, this framework lays the groundwork for continued research of these materials. This framework enabled a detailed multiscale stress analysis of a woven DCB specimen that revealed the effect of the complex microstructure on the stress and strain energy release rate distribution along the crack front. In addition to implementing an oxidation model, the framework was also used to implement strategies that expedited the simulation of oxidation in textile composites so that it would take only a few hours. The simulation showed that the tow architecture played a significant role in the oxidation behavior in textile composites. Finally, a coupled diffusion/oxidation and damage progression analysis was implemented that was used to study the mechanical behavior of textile composites under mechanical loading as well as oxidation. A parametric study was performed to determine the effect of material properties and the number of plies in the laminate on its mechanical behavior. The analyses indicated a significant effect of the tow architecture and other parameters on the damage progression in the laminates.

Orientador: Samuel da Silva / Resumo: O principal objetivo deste trabalho é usar métodos de extrapolação em coeficientes de modelos autorregressivos (AR), para fornecer informações futuras de condições de estruturas na existência de mecanismo de danos pré-definidos. Os modelos AR são estimados considerando a predição de um passo à frente, verificados e validados a partir de dados de vibração de uma estrutura na condição não danificada. Os erros de predição são usados para extrair um indicador para classificar a condição do sistema. Então, um novo modelo é identificado se qualquer variação de índices de dano ocorrer, e seus coeficientes são comparados com os do modelo de referência. A extrapolação dos coeficientes de AR é realizada através das splines cúbicas por partes que evitam possíveis instabilidades e alterações indesejáveis dos polinômios, obtendo aproximações adequadas através de polinômios de baixa ordem. Uma curva de tendência para o indicador capaz de predizer o comportamento futuro pode ser obtida a partir da extrapolação direta dos coeficientes. Uma estrutura de três andares com um para-choque e uma coluna de alumínio colocada no centro do último andar são analisados com diferentes cenários de dano para ilustrar a abordagem. Os resultados indicam a possibilidade de estimar a condição futura do sistema a partir dos dados de vibração nas condições de danos iniciais. / Abstract: The main purpose of this work is to apply extrapolation methods upon coefficients of autoregressive models (AR), to provide future condition information of structures in the existence of predefined damage mechanism. The AR models are estimated considering one-step-ahead prediction, verified and validated from vibration data of a structure in the undamaged condition. The prediction errors are used to extract an indicator to classify the system state condition. Then, a new model is identified if any variation of damage indices occurs, and its coefficients are compared to the ones from the reference model. The extrapolation of the AR coefficients is performed through the piecewise cubic splines that avoid possible instabilities and undesirable changes of the polynomials, obtaining suitable approximations through low-order polynomials. A trending curve for the indicator capable of predicting future behavior can be obtained from direct coefficient extrapolation. A benchmark of a three-story building structure with a bumper and an aluminum column placed on the center of the top floor is analyzed with different damage scenarios to illustrate the approach. The results indicate the feasibility of estimating the future system state from the vibration data in the initial damage conditions. / Mestre