Composite Material Characterization Laboratory primarily focused on the characterization of

advanced composite materials, including the manufacturing and testing of verification samples
pertained to Aerospace applications. This lab is funded by Anna University and DST-FIST. The major
thrust areas are

 Development of new materials for Aerospace applications

 Composite material characterization
 Non-Destructive Evaluation of composite material
 Repair of polymeric composite structures

Undergraduates, postgraduates and doctoral students are not only guided for their research
activities but also hands on training are provided to operate different equipment available in the
CMC laboratory. Some of the research activities of this lab are also in collobaration with
faculties/scientists at University of Southampton (UK), University of Portsmouth (UK), University of
Camerino (Italy), NIT-Suratkal, NIT-Trichy, IIT-Madras, IIITDM -Kanchipuram. The research output of
this lab has been published in various leading and prestigious journals such as Composites Part: B,
Composites Part: A, Composites Structures, Polymer composites, journal of composite materials.

List equipment’s available in the CMS Laboratory for testing and evolution are,

 100 kN Universal Testing machine

 50 kN Fatigue testing Machine
 8 Channel Acoustic emission setup
 Drop weight impact testing machine
 Batch type cold chamber
 20 channel strain indicator with data logger
 Ultrasonic A and B Scan
 Bondmaster
 Optical microscope

Fabrication facilities available in the CMC Laboratory are

 Horizontal type autoclave

 Vacuum bag moulding
 50 kN compression moulding
 Hand layup setup
Testing:

The characterization of composites for mechanical properties is very important from a design and
analysis as well as a life prediction point of view.

The mechanical and physical testing of polymers and their composites is vital to determine the
material properties for use in the design and analysis of the product, quality control, application
performance requirements, and production process.

Mechanical testing of composites consists of Static and dynamics testing,

Static testing of composites was performed in the 100kN UTM in the CMC Lab, which
includes tensile (tension), flexural, shear, and compression, interlaminar fracture toughness and
quasi static indentation. This all testing is performed as per the ASTM/ ISO standard. Along with
Acoustic emission setup was used to monitor the damage onset and progression.

Drop weight impact test is used to evaluate the resistance of the material to sudden impacts.
In this test, Specimen is hit by an indenter caring a weight or mass from a certain specified height.
The energy induced by falling mass on the specimen is recorded and is used to evaluate the impact
strength of the composite material.

Dynamic testing of composites was performed in the 50kN Fatigue testing machine in the
CMC Lab, which includes tensile (tension), flexural, shear, and compression, this all testing is
performed as per the ASTM/ ISO standard. Along with that extensometer setup was used to monitor
the damage onset and progression