Title: Mechanical properties and operational damage evaluation of CSM composites by destructive and non-destructive techniques

Authors: E. Sideridis, V.N. Kytopoulos, I.N. Prassianakis, G.D. Bourkas, J.K. Sakellaris

Addresses: Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Physics, Department of Mechanics, Laboratory of Strength of Materials and SEM, NTU Athens, Iroon Polytechniou 5, 157 73 Zographou, Athens, Greece. ' Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Physics, Department of Mechanics, Laboratory of Strength of Materials and SEM, NTU Athens, Iroon Polytechniou 5, 157 73 Zographou, Athens, Greece. ' Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Physics, Department of Mechanics, Laboratory of Strength of Materials and SEM, NTU Athens, Iroon Polytechniou 5, 157 73 Zographou, Athens, Greece. ' Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Physics, Department of Mechanics, Laboratory of Strength of Materials and SEM, NTU Athens, Iroon Polytechniou 5, 157 73 Zographou, Athens, Greece. ' Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Physics, Department of Mechanics, Laboratory of Strength of Materials and SEM, NTU Athens, Iroon Polytechniou 5, 157 73 Zographou, Athens, Greece

Abstract: The damage parameter D expresses the effective density of micro-cracks, cavities and any other internal defect existing in a material. In the NDT methods of ultrasounds the change of ultrasonic waves| intensity is expressed by their attenuation coefficient. Based on this quantity, an improved technique by which one can simply and with adequate sensitivity and accuracy determine the damage of materials has been introduced. Also, in this study some damaging effects induced by creep loading under normal ambient conditions in CSM fibre reinforced resin composites were investigated by means of a basic type experimental approaching technique which is based on the influence of the creep-induced damaging effect on some relevant mechanical parameters such as elastic modulus and fracture stress. Finally, an experimental and theoretical study of certain static and dynamic properties of CSM resin composites through tensile and vibrations tests was carried out in order to determine elastic modulus, fracture stress, storage and loss moduli, to investigate the influence of parameters such as filler content.

Keywords: chopped strand mat; CSM resin composites; nondestructive testing; NDT; ultrasound; damage evaluation; microcracks; cavities; internal defects; creep loading; fibre reinforced composites; elastic modulus; fracture stress; tensile testing; vibrations tests; storage; loss moduli; filler content.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMP.2011.040443

International Journal of Microstructure and Materials Properties, 2011 Vol.6 No.1/2, pp.157 - 179

Published online: 27 May 2011 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article