| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/L19812/01 |
| Title: |
A FUNDAMENTAL STUDY OF THE COMPRESSIVE FAILURE OF POLYMER COMPOSITES |
| Principal Investigator: |
Fleck, Professor N |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Engineering |
| Organisation: |
University of Cambridge |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 October 1996 |
Ends: |
31 March 2000 |
Value (£): |
212,079
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Materials Characterisation |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Aerospace, Defence and Marine |
Manufacturing |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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The aim is to determine the factors controlling compressive strength of carbon fibre polymer matrix composites. Previous work shows that the compressive strength is sensitive to fibre misalignment and to the shear properties of the matrix. Now we seek the quantitative effect upon the compressive strength of the fibre properties (fibre strength, fibre stiffness, fibre non-linearity and fibre diameter) and the presence of defects (fibre misalignment, void content, uniformity of fibre distribution and fibre-matrix debond strength). The significance of these parameters will be determined by testing a range of composites manufactured in-house and provided by the collaborators DRA, Cooksons and Ciba-Geigy. The relation between process route, distribution of fibre waviness and distribution of compressive strength will be measured and analysed, making use of the Fleck-Shu microbuckling finite element code. Initiation of microbuckling will be examined using Moire interferometry on a model material, and compared with numerical prediction of microbuckle formation. The stress required for tunnelling of a microbuckle in a multi-directional laminate will be measured and predicted by a rigorous elastic calculation. Finally, a unified theory for compressive failure of unidirectional and multi-directional laminates will be developed.
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Key Findings |
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.cam.ac.uk |