Solidification microstructures in a short fiber reinforced alloy composite containing different fiber fractions

The solidification microstructures and micro-segregation of a fiber reinforced Al-9 Cu alloy, containing different volume fractions of Al2O3 short fibers about 6μm diameter and made by squeeze casting have been studied. The results indicate that as volume fraction of fiber Vf. increases, the size of final grains becomes finer in the matrix. If λf 〉λ〉1, the fibers have almost no influence on the solidification behavior of the matrix, so the final grains grow coarse, where λf is the average inter-fiber spacing and A is the secondary dendrite arm spacing. While if λf/ 〈λ〈1, the growth of crystals in the matrix is affected significantly by the fibers and the grain size is reduced to the value of the inter-fiber spacing. The fibers influence the average length of a solidification volume element L of the matrix and also influence the solidification time 8, of the matrix. As a result of fibers influencing L and θl, the micro-segregation in the matrix is improved when the composite contains more fibers, although the level of the improvement is slight. The Clyne-Kurz model can be used to semi-quantitatively analyze the relationship between Vf and the volume fraction .fe of the micro-segregation eutectic structure.

Effects of Fiber Volume Fraction on Damping Properties of Three-Dimensional and Five-Directional Braided Composites

The effects of fiber volume fraction on damping properties of carbon fiber three-dimensional and five-directional( 3D-5Dir)braided carbon fiber / epoxyres in composite cantilever beams were studied by experimental modal analysis method. Meanwhile,carbon fiber plain woven laminated / epoxy resin composites with different fiber volume fraction were concerned for comparison. The experimental result of braided specimens shows that the first three orders of natural frequency increase and the first three orders of the damping ratios of specimens decrease, when the fiber volume fraction increases. Furthermore,larger fiber volume fraction will be valuable for the better anti-exiting property of braided composites,and get an opposite effect on dissipation of vibration energy. The fiber volume fraction is an important factor for vibration performance design of braided composites. The comparison between the braided specimens and laminated specimens reveals that 3D braided composites have a wider range of damping properties than laminated composites with the same fiber volume fractions.

Preparation and Mechanical Properties of UV⁃Assisted Filament Winding Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer⁃Matrix Composite

This paper studied the preparation and mechanical properties of glass fiber reinforced polymer-matrix composite rings prepared by filament winding assisted by ultraviolet(UV)curing.A ray-tracing method was used to calculate the penetration ability of UV light in the resin casting,and then a typical composite ring with dual⁃curing characteristics was prepared by UV-assisted curing.The effects of winding speed and thermal initiator concentration on the distribution of fiber fraction and mechanical properties were studied.Microscopic morphology was used for the observation of the differences in fiber volume fraction.Mechanical properties tests and scanning electron micrographs were performed to investigate the failure and damage mechanisms of the composite ring samples.The ray tracing results indicate that the UV light can pass through a single yarn thickness and the energy transmitted is sufficient to cure the back side quickly.The experimental results show that the mechanical properties of the composite ring prepared in this paper are comparable to those of the heat-cured samples,which is sufficient to meet the requirements of the flywheel.

Analysis of the Microstructure and Permeability of the Laminates with Different Fiber Volume Fraction

Microstructures of laminates produced by epoxy/carbon fibers with different fiber volume fraction were studied by analyzing the composite cross-sections.The main result of the compaction of reinforcement is the flatting of bundle shape,the reducing of gap and the embedment of bundles among each layer.The void content outside the bundle decreased sharply during the compaction until it is less than that inside the bundle when the fiber volume fraction is over 60%.The resin flow velocity in the fiber tow is 102-104 times greater than the flow velocity out the fiber tow no matter the capillary pressure is taken into account or not.

Effect of Fiber Volume Fraction on Longitudinal Tensile Properties of SiCf/Ti-6Al-4V Composites

The longitudinal tensile properties of SiCf/Ti-6Al-4V composites with different fiber volume fractions were simulated by the Monte Carlo 2-D finite element model. The random distribution of fiber strength was expressed by the two-parameter Weibull function. Meanwhile, contact elements and birth-death elements were used to describe the interfacial sliding process after debonding and fiber breakage（or matrix cracking） respectively, which was realized by subroutine complied in ANSYS-APDL（ANSYS Parametric Design Language）. The experimental results show that the yield stress and ultimate tensile strength of SiCf/Ti-6Al-4V composites increase with increasing fiber volume fraction, while the corresponding strain of them is just on the contrary. In addition, almost the same failure mode is obtained in SiCf/Ti-6Al-4V composites with various fiber volume fractions when the interfacial shear strength is fixed. Finally, the tensile strength predicted by finite element analysis is compared with that predicted by Global load-sharing model, Local load-sharing model and conventional rule of mixtures, thus drawing the conclusion that Local load-sharing model is very perfect for the prediction of the ultimate tensile strength.

Evaluation of Mechanical Properties of Highly Filled Jute Fiber Reinforced Composites

This study aims for development of highly filled jute fiber reinforced composites that contains jute fiber over fiber weight fraction 60%,and jute fiber reinforced composite was fabricated by the hot-pressing method.The molding temperature was changed from 175°C to 230°C,to investigate the effect of molding temperature on the mechanical properties of jute fiber reinforced composites.The effect of surface treatment of jute fiber on the mechanical properties of jute fiber reinforced composites was also investigated.As a result,the jute fiber reinforced composites using surface treated fiber has low porosity,and the jute fiber reinforced composite having low porosity has high flexural strength and modulus.The jute fiber reinforced composite using acetone treated fiber molded at 200°C has the maximum flexural strength and modulus.

Compression Responses of Preform in Vacuum Infusion Process

The final thickness of a product after the vacuum infusion process （VIP）, which is equal to the fiber volume fraction, depends in part on the compression responses of the preform because one of the mold faces is flexible in VIE This study aims at investigating the compression responses of different fabrics under dry or wet conditions. The main factors affecting the compression response under investigation include, the vacuum pressure, the loading and unloading repeatability on the preform, the layup design, the kinds of fabrics, and the resin viscosity. Besides, the effects of some internal factors such as nesting and elastic recovery of fibers, lubrication of resin, friction between fibers, and so on, are also studied. In the end, this article expatiates the meaning of the matching requirements of the permeability of the preform and that of the distribution medium.

Yarn Architecture Analysis of Two-step 3D Braided Composites

A comprehensive study of yarn architecture of two-step rectangle 3D braided composites is presented. Firstly, the braided surface, the shapes of yarns and the intertwining between braider yams and axial yams are analyzed from experimentation. With the microstructure being defined, three levels of unit cell structure are identified, i.e. large unit cell, second unit cell and minimal unit cell. Secondly, based on the minimal unit cell in the interior and on the boundary of the entire cross-section, the deformations of axial yams squashed by braider yams contribute to the increase of the fiber packing factors of axial yams. Finally, the predicted fiber volume fraction of the composites decreases with the increase of linear density of the braider yam and the pitch length. Favorable correlations between the predicted and the experimental results arc found for six groups of the composites.

Resin Matrix Shear Band and Its Special Effect on Stress Concentration of Fiber Composites

A constitutive model is constructed to consider the resin matrix post-yield softening and progressive hardening behaviors. A user-defined material mechanical behavior （UMAT） subroutine is created, then the non-linear three-dimensional finite element analysis on the tensile processes of multi-fiber composites is conducted. The approximate 45° shear bands emanating from the matrix crack tip are found, being coincided with the experimental observations. The shear stress on the adjacent intact fiber/matrix interface is strongly influenced by the shear band and thus the stress concentration factor （SCF） changes obviously in the adjacent fibers. The distinct stress redistribution in the adjacent intact fibers implies the significant effect of the shear bands on the progressive fiber fracture initiation. As the inter-fiber spacing increases, the peak value of the SCF in the adjacent intact fiber decreases, whereas the overload zone becomes wider. The research has provided a helpful tool to evaluate the failure of fiber composites and optimize the composite performance through the proper selection of resin matrix properties and fiber volume fraction.