Accession Number:

ADA230853

Title:

Impact Damage in Curved Graphite/Epoxy Panels with Clamped Edges

Descriptive Note:

Master's thesis

Corporate Author:

AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

Personal Author(s):

• Perry, Ronald B.

Report Date:

1990-12-01

Pagination or Media Count:

186.0

Abstract:

Graphiteepoxy curved cylindrical panels were impacted in the center by an impact machine capable of measuring load during the test. Load, deflection and strain as functions of time were measured for six symmetric layup configurations for impact energies of 0.5 to 4.5 ft-lb. Damage was produced in all panels for certain impact energies. The extent and location of damage was determined from C-scans and optical microscopy of panel cross-sections. The cross-sections indicated that both delamination and transverse cracking contribute to internal damage. An in-house nonlinear finite element code was used to predict the panel deflections and stresses. The analysis produced good results in predicting the panel deflection and indicated transverse failure stresses were present in the panel center region. The deflections indicated that the panel was in between simply supported and clamped boundary conditions, with good agreement obtained for hinged support at each edge.

Descriptors:

• *DAMAGE
• *PANELS
• *IMPACT
• *EPOXY RESINS
• *GRAPHITED MATERIALS
• DEFLECTION
• THESES
• FABRICATION
• GRAPHITE
• REGIONS
• MICROSCOPY
• BOUNDARIES
• CURVATURE
• OPTICAL ANALYSIS
• INTERNAL
• CONFIGURATIONS
• SYMMETRY
• EPOXY COMPOUNDS
• FAILURE(MECHANICS)
• DELAMINATION
• HINGES
• TRANSVERSE
• ENERGY
• CRACKS
• COMPOSITE MATERIALS
• CURVED PROFILES
• STRESSES
• MEASUREMENT

Subject Categories:

• Laminates and Composite Materials
• Mechanics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE