2001/12/13 1.

A KFRP laminate, which is 6 mm thick, is composed of an upper unidirectional layer, 2mm thick, with the fibers aligned at 45 to the plate edges, and a lower unidirectional layer, 4 mm thick, with the fibers parallel to the x-axis. Find the extensional stiffness matrix of this laminate. [20 points] E11 = 76 GPa, E22 = 5.5 GPa, G12 =2.35GPa 12 = 0.33, vf = 0.6

2. Derive the transformation matrix when the material axes are inclined by with respect to the basic axes. [10 points] 3. List six different toughening mechanisms of composite materials. Explain each mechanism within 50 words with drawings, if any. [15 points] 4. A tensile specimen of a unidirectional composite is prepared such that the fibers make an angle of 5 with the applied load. maximum Determine the stress to cause failure according to (a) the maximum stress criterion, and (b) the criterion, and (c) Tsai-Hill criterion. E11=76.0GPa, E22=5.5GPa, G12=2.35GPa, strain

12=0.33, 1T = 1250 MPa, 2T = 30 MPa, 1C = 1000 MPa, 2C = 100 MPa, 12 = 50 MPa. [20 points]
5. What is the definition of the critical fiber length in the short fiber composite? Show that the fiber length should be 5 times longer than the critical fiber length when an average fiber stress ( Tf ) need to reach failure stress of

fibers ( Tf ). [20 points]

6. Derive stress intensity factor (K) and fracture toughness (Kc) assuming brittle fracture mode with a crack size = 2a, stored energy from interior crack = -(2Y2a2)/E, surface energy = s. [15 points]

Final Examination of Advanced Composite Materials ( )

2000/12/11 1. List three major classes of polymeric materials that are used as common matrices of PMC. Also include four different typical polymers in each class. [6 points] 2. Describe the two main reasons of growing interests of PEEK as a PMC matrix.[4 points] 3. Assuming that the crack velocity during slow crack growth is proportional to Kn, where K is the stress intensity factor, show that the life time of a component is inversely proportional to n-2 if there are inherent flaws in the component. [10 points] 4. A KFRP (Kevlar fiber reinforced in an epoxy matrix, E11 = 76 GPa, E22 = 5.5 GPa, 12 = 0.33, G12 = 2.35 GPa) is subjected to the stress shown in the figure below. Calculate the strain x when the composite is loaded along the x and y axes with x = 3 MPa and y = 1 MPa. [20 points] Calculate the stress in the direction 2. [5 point]

Determine whether the laminar fails using Tsai-Hill criterion if 1T , 2T , 12 are 1000 MPa, 30 MPa, and 50
MPa, respectively. [10 points] 2 y 1

30 Hints: S11 = S11m + (2 S12 + S 33 )n m + S 22 n 4

4 2 2

S13 = (2S11 2S12 S 33 )nm + (2S12 2S 22 + S 33 )mn 3

3

S12 = (S11 + S 22 S 33 )n 2 m 2 + S12 m 4 + n 4

5. An aligned short fiber composite consists of 40 vol.% carbon fiber of length 2mm and diameter 7m in a polycarbonate matrix. The tensile strength of the fiber and the shear strength of the fiber matrix interface are 2.5 GPa and 12.5 MPa. Calculate the critical fiber length lc. [10 points] Estimate the longitudinal tensile strength of the composite given that the stress on the matrix at the failure strain of the fiber is 30 MPa. [10 points] 6. Briefly describe the toughening mechanisms of composite materials [12 points]. 7. A composite has the material axis 1 that is inclined by with respect to applied stress along x-axis. When only x is subjected to the composite, describe how to estimate the failure mode in terms of the angle . [13 points]


1999/12/16 1. A cylinder with closed ends has a dimension of 2m long, 500mm in diameter, and 20 mm wall thickness. If this cylinder is subjected to an internal pressure of 0.5 MPa, calculate the change of length and diameter caused by the pressure. (E = 1.0 GPa, = 0.45) Hints: a (stress in the axial direction = PR/2t and c (stress in the circumferential direction) = PR/t. [15 points] 2. A tensile specimen of a unidirectional composite is prepared such that the fibers make an angle of 5 with the applied load. Determine the stress to cause failure according to (a) the maximum stress criterion, and (b) the maximum strain criterion, and (c) Tsai-Hill criterion. E11=76.0GPa, E22=5.5GPa, G12=2.35GPa,

12=0.33, 1T = 1250 MPa, 2T = 30 MPa, 1C = 1000 MPa, 2C = 100 MPa, 12 = 50 MPa.

[20 points] 3. An aligned short fiber composite consists of 40 vol.% carbon fibers of length 2 mm and diameter 7 m in a polycarbonate matrix. The tensile strength of the fibers and the shear strength of the fiber-matrix interface are 2.5 GPa and 12.5 MPa respectively. [20 points] 4. List six different toughening mechanisms of composite materials. Explain each mechanism within 50 words with drawings, if any. [18 points] 5. Microcracks can be formed by the difference of thermal expansion coefficient of the matrix (m) and the fiber (f). Explain the crack modes according to the relative magnitude of m and f. [12 points] 6. Mr. Lee plotted the crack velocity as a function of stress intensity factor for a CMC. The ln-ln plot showed the slope n = 50 and intercept at ln (v:crack velocity) =10. When the stress intensity factor is less than the If the initial cracks are present in the fracture toughness, it takes time to reach an unstable critical crack size. tensile tress of 0.7 MPa assuming calibration factor as . [15 points] Calculate theoretical fiber length, lc, and then estimate the longitudinal tensile strength of the composite given that the stress on the matrix at the failure strain of the fibers is 30 MPa.

material and the length is 0.1 mm, how long will it take to reach to the critical crack size (1 mm) under the


2003 1212 1. The following schematic drawing shows a force balance in a fiber (diameter = D, length = l ), that is embedded

in a composite. Derive the fracture strength of the fiber ( Tf ) and average tensile strength of the fiber ( Tf ) in
terms of shear stress (), critical fiber length (lc), and diameter of the fiber (D) when the fiber length is longer than critical fiber length. [15 points] From the derived

equation, plot Tf Tf as a function of a fiber length and

find the most effective fiber length in a short fiber composite. [10 points]

2. Derive stress intensity factor and fracture toughness when a specimen with an interior crack (size = 2a) is in tension with tensile stress . Assuming that the crack propagates in a brittle fracture mode and use E as elastic modulus, as a calibration factor for an infinite plate for stored energy calculation, as surface energy, and Gc as critical strain energy release. [20 points] 3. Describe the crack bowing toughening of fiber composites in terms of aspect ratio, volume fraction, and strength of the fiber. [10 points] 4. Describe the transformation toughening using an example of Y2O3 added ZTA. [10 points] 5. A tensile specimen of a unidirectional composite is prepared such that the fibers make an angle of 10 with the applied load. Determine the stress to cause failure according to (a) the maximum stress criterion, and (b) the maximum strain criterion, and (c) Tsai-Hill criterion. E11=76.0GPa, E22=5.5GPa, G12=2.35GPa,

12=0.33, 1T = 1250 MPa, 2T = 30 MPa, 1C = 1000 MPa, 2C = 100 MPa, 12 = 50 MPa. [20 points]
6. Write the plate constitutive equation and name all the elements in the equation with their physical meanings. [15 points]

Thank you and have a wonderful winter break!

Composite Materials (Final Exam.)

Dec. 7, 2004

1. A KFRP laminate, which is 6 mm thick, is composed of an upper unidirectional layer, 2mm thick, with the fibers aligned at 45 to the plate edges, and a lower unidirectional layer, 4 mm thick, with the fibers parallel to the x-axis. Find the extensional stiffness matrix of this laminate. [20 points] E11 = 80 GPa, E22 = 10 GPa, G12 = 5 GPa 12 = 0.33, Vf = 0.6

2. In our class, we learned that the longitudinal tensile strength ( 1T ) is dependent on the volume fraction of fibers (Vf) in the composite. When the volume is small, the strength follows the rule of mixture. However, fibers take most of the load after matrix failure when the composite contains high Vf. Using the notations in the below, derive the critical amount of Vf between the above mentioned two failure modes. [15 points] : fiber stress at a strain corresponding to matrix failure. f
f : fiber strength, m : matrix strength, m : matrix stress at a strain of fiber failure.

3. A tensile specimen of a unidirectional composite is prepared such that the fibers make an angle of 15 with the applied load. Determine the stress to cause failure according to (a) the maximum stress criterion, and (b) the maximum strain criterion, and (c) Tsai-Hill criterion. E11=76.0GPa, E22=5.5GPa [20 points] 4. From the force balance in the fiber embedded in a matrix, show that the tensile strength of a short fiber composite exhibits almost similar strength compared to continuous fiber composite when the fiber length is longer than 10 lc assuming Vf is 0.5. [20 points] 5. List and briefly describe six different toughening mechanisms of composite materials. [10 points] 6. Describe the mechanisms of vibration method, thermal method, and acoustic emission method of NDT. [15 points] Thank you and have a great winter vacation!
* Final score will be posted in the department bulletin board on 15th of Dec. and your grade will be found via KU internet on 20th of Dec.

Composite Materials (Final Exam.)

June 9. 2005

7. Bending of a plate along the x direction causes anticlassic curvature along the y direction due to Poissons ratio. Compare the amounts of anticlassic curvature values by calculating Ry (radius of curvature along y direction) when the two materials A and B have two different Poissons ratios: 0.3 and 0.45, respectively and when Rx is 50 cm after bending of a plate. Assume that the two materials have same elastic modulus (E = 1 GPa) and x on the top surface is 1 MPa and thickness of the plate is 1 cm. [20 points] 8. A unidirectional GFRP lamina, 1mm thick, has the following elastic properties: E11 = 38.0, E22 = 8.0, G12 = 4.2 GPa and 12 = 0.25. When this lamina has its fibers oriented at 30 to the x-axis as shown in the figure, calculate the strains in the 1-2 and x-y axes when a shear stress of 100 MPa is applied to the laminar. [15 points]

9. A sandwich plate has the configuration shown in the figure. Each 0.125 mm thick ply has the properties given in the problem (2), with the fibers oriented as indicated. Calculate the A and B matrices, assuming the foam core has the following elastic properties: E = 1 GPa, = 0.3. [15 points] 10. A unidirectional lamina, with the properties given below, is subjected to a shear stress as illustrated in the figure. Determine the magnitude of this stress to cause failure according to the Tsai-Hill criterion when =30, E11 = 130 GPa, E22 = 10 GPa, G12 = 5 GPa, 12 = 0.3, 1T = 1500MPa, 2T = 50MPa, 1C = 1300MPa, 2C = 120MPa,12 = 80MPa. [15 points] 11. Compute the longitudinal tensile strength of an aligned glass fiberepoxy matrix composite in which the average fiber diameter and length are 0.015 mm and 2.0 mm, respectively, and the volume fraction of fibers is 0.25. Assume that the fibermatrix bond strength is 100 MPa, the fracture strength of the fiber is 3500 MPa, and the matrix stress at composite failure is 5.5 MPa. [15 points] 12. Describe the five different NDT methods to find defects in the composite materials. [10 points] Based on your description in speculate the weakness of each method. [10 points]

13. Thank you and have a wonderful summer vacation!

Composite Materials
(Final Examination) 2007-6-7 1. A tensile specimen of a unidirectional composite is prepared such that the fibers make an angle of 10 with the applied load. Determine the stress to cause failure according to (a) the maximum stress criterion, and (b) the maximum strain criterion, and (c) Tsai-Hill criterion. E11=70.0GPa, E22=5.0GPa, G12=2.0GPa, 12=0.33, 1T = 1200 MPa, 2T = 30 MPa, 1C = 1000MPa, 2C = 100 MPa, 12 = 50 MPa. [20 points] 2. The following schematic drawing shows a force balance in a fiber (diameter = D, length=l), that is embedded in a composite. Derive the fracture strength of the fiber ( Tf ) and average tensile strength of the fiber ( Tf ) in terms of shear stress (), critical fiber length (lc), and diameter of the fiber (D) when the fiber length is longer than critical fiber length. [15 points] From the derived equation, plot Tf Tf as a function of a fiber length and find the most effective fiber length in a short fiber composite. [10 points] 3. A rotate FRP lamina has elastic constants as: E11=100 GPa, E22=10 GPa, v12 = 0.33, G12 = 5GPa. When the lamina is subjected to the stresses as shown in the right, calculate the stresses in 1-2 direction and strains in x-y direction. For , please start from the simple relationships between stress and strain relationships such as 1 = 1 / E11 21 2 / E22 and v12E22=v21E11, etc. [20 points] 4. An engineer found a crack in a ceramic matrix composite and plotted the crack velocity (v) as a function of stress intensity factor in ln-ln plot. The graph showed the slope n = 50 and the intercept in y axis at ln v = 10. When the stress intensity factor is less than the fracture toughness, it takes time to reach a critical crack size for unstable crack propagation. If the initial cracks are present in the material and their initial length is 0.1 mm, how long will it take to reach to the critical crack size (1 mm) under the tensile tress of 0.7 MPa assuming calibration factor as . [15 points] 5. List six different toughening mechanisms of composite materials. Explain each mechanism within 50 words with drawings, if any. [20] Thank you!

Composite Materials
(Final Examination) 2008-12-6 1. A rotate CFRP lamina in the right figure has elastic constants as: E11=100 GPa, E22=20 GPa, v12=0.3, G12= 5GPa. When the top lamina is subjected to the stresses as shown in the right, calculate the stresses in 1-2 direction [10 point] and strains in x-y direction in the top lamina [10 point], and determine A, B and D matrices in the Plate Constitute Equation in the laminate [10 point]. (cf. for , please start from the simple relationships between stress and strain relationships: (ex.) v12E22 = v21E11, 1 = 1 / E11 21 2 / E22 , and etc.)
y=5MPa 1 x=5MPa xy=2MPa

1 = 1 / E11 21 2 / E22

2. Describe the concentration of force on a crack tip in terms crack size and tip radius [10 point] and derive Griffith criterion for brittle fracture for an infinite plate [10 point]. 3. The following schematic drawing shows a force balance in a fiber (diameter = D, length = l ), that is embedded

in a composite. Derive the fracture strength of the fiber ( Tf )

and average tensile strength of the fiber ( Tf ) in terms of shear stress (), critical fiber length (lc), and diameter of the fiber (D) when the fiber length is longer than critical fiber length. [10

points] From the derived equation, plot Tf Tf as a function

of a fiber length and find the most effective fiber length in a short fiber composite. [10 point] 4. Describe the four different tests for impact resistance of composite materials. In your answer, include strength and weakness of each test method. [10 point] 5. Describe the four different failure modes of mechanically fastened joints including the amount of load required for failure. [10 point] 6. Describe the three different scan modes for ultrasonic tests of composite materials. [10 point] Thank you and have a wonderful winter break!