MID TERM ASSESSMENT - Advances mechanics - Composites

503793 Advanced Topics for Applied Mechanics

MID-TERM ASSESSMENT - Composites
12th October 2015
13h-16h (3h)
Authorization to have 1 page of notes

To design and manufacture a composite laminate part for a sport application,

carbon fibres and epoxy resin are available in the workshop. Their properties
are given by the manufacturer:

Carbon fibres Epoxy resin

Efl = 200 GPa Er = 4.0 GPa
Eft = 8 GPa nr = 0.3
Gflt = 50 GPA rr = 1200 kg/m3
nflt = 0.7
Mof = 130 g/m²
rf = 1750 kg/m3

Before designing the composite laminate, properties of the carbon/epoxy ply

are required, therefore:

Part I (Score = 25%): Ply properties

1) What is the density, rply, and the thickness, hply, of the carbon/epoxy ply for a
fibre volume ratio Vf = 60%.

2) What are the mechanical properties of this carbon/epoxy ply?

3) Why is it necessary to assure, during the lay-up, a good orientation of each

ply?

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 MID TERM ASSESSMENT - Advances mechanics - Composites

Part II (Score = 50%): Practical determination of a laminate subjected to

membrane loading (No analytical application)

The composite laminate will be subjected to a stress resultants denoted Nx, Ny

and Txy [N/mm]:

The failure stresses of the carbon/epoxy ply are noted sx, sy and txy

1) Detail the 4 steps required to determine the number of each plies for the 4
classical orientations (0°, +45°, -45° and 90°)

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 MID TERM ASSESSMENT - Advances mechanics - Composites

Part III (Score = 25%): Application

The stress resultants denoted Nx, Ny and Txy, that will be applied to the
composite laminate are:
Nx = 1000 N/mm
Ny = 400 N/mm
Txy = 100 N/mm

The failure stresses of the ply (carbon/epoxy, Vf = 60%) have been obtained
experimentally and are:
sx = 1800 MPa
sy = 50 MPa
txy = 110 MPa

The composite laminate part needs to be designed (number of plies and

stacking) in function of the loading (Nx, Ny and Txy).
Angles orientation of 0°, + 45°, -45° and 90° are classically used for this part.

1) Estimate the ply proportion for the 4 orientations 0°, +45°, -45° and 90°:

2) The laminate thickness determined thanks to the Part II is finally 1.96 mm.
Propose a stacking to respect the plies proportion determined previously.
Moreover, the stacking should respect the most possible the classical stacking
rules. Explain your choice. The thickness of the ply, hply, is the value calculated
in the part I.

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 degree radius cos(Ɵ) E (x) % difference
c 0 0 1 141.2 Gpa
83.77727401
Custom E(x) Force direction Gpa 5 0.087266 0.996195 22.90649 Gpa
10 0.174533 0.984808 6.708179 Gpa
E(l) longitudinal 141.2 Gpa 25 0.436332 0.906308 1.381925 Gpa
45 0.785398 0.707107 0.794568 Gpa
E(t) transverse 6.153846 Gpa 75 1.308997 0.258819 2.24453 Gpa
90 1.570796 6.13E-17 6.153846 Gpa
Custom 45 0.785398 0.707107 0.794568 Gpa
G Shear Modulus 4.78335 Gpa
degree radius sin(Ɵ)
s 0 0 0
Poisson ratio 0.25 5 0.087266 0.087156
10 0.174533 0.173648
25 0.436332 0.422618
45 0.785398 0.707107
75 1.308997 0.965926
Young Modulus (Ex), Angle
90 1.570796 1
160
Custom 45 0.785398 0.707107
140

120 effect of fiber @5 effect of matrix @5

100
El 22.90649 Gpa
80
Ff 0.7
Ef 31.86641 Gpa
60 Fm 0.3
Em 2
40

20

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
e45