• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.72 no.6
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• pp.713-722
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• 2019

Micromechanics is a technique for the analysis of composites or heterogeneous materials which focuses on the components of the intended structure. Each one of the components can exhibit isotropic behavior, but the microstructure characteristics of the heterogeneous material result in the anisotropic behavior of the structure. In this research, the general mechanical properties of a 3D anisotropic and heterogeneous Representative Volume Element (RVE), have been determined by applying periodic boundary conditions (PBCs), using the Asymptotic Homogenization Theory (AHT) and strain energy. In order to use the homogenization theory and apply the periodic boundary conditions, the ABAQUS scripting interface (ASI) has been used along with the Python programming language. The results have been compared with those of the Homogeneous Boundary Conditions method, which leads to an overestimation of the effective mechanical properties. According to the results, applying homogenous boundary conditions results in a 33% and 13% increase in the shear moduli G₂₃ and G₁₂, respectively. In polymeric composites, the fibers have linear and brittle behavior, while the resin exhibits a non-linear behavior. Therefore, the nonlinear effects of resin on the mechanical properties of the composite material is studied using a user-defined subroutine in Fortran (USDFLD). The non-linear shear stress-strain behavior of unidirectional composite laminates has been obtained. Results indicate that at arbitrary constant stress as 80 MPa in-plane shear modulus, G₁₂, experienced a 47%, 41% and 31% reduction at the fiber volume fraction of 30%, 50% and 70%, compared to the linear assumption. The results of this study are in good agreement with the analytical and experimental results available in the literature.

• Composites Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.85-90
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• 2013

This paper presents the fabrication and 3-point flexion testing of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite face/aluminum honeycomb core sandwich panels. Specimen sandwich panels were fabricated with three honeycomb types (3.18 mm, 4.76 mm, and 6.35 mm cell size) and three panel radii (flat, r = 1.6 m, r = 1.3 m). The curved sandwiches were fabricated normally with the core in the W-direction. The tensile mechanical properties of the CFRP $2{\times}2$ twill fabric face laminate were evaluated (modulus, strength, Poisson's ratio). The measured values are comparable to other CFRP fabric laminates. The flat sandwich 3-point flexion test core shear strength results were 11-30% lower than the manufacturer published data; the test set-up used may be the cause. With a limited sample size, the 1.3 meter panel curvature appeared to cause a 0.8-3.8% reduction in ultimate core shear strength compared to a flat panel.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.293-300
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• 2012

In this study, the delamination analysis has been implemented to investigate the initiation and propagation of crack in composite laminates composed of orthotropic materials. A simple modeling was achieved by moving nodal technique without re-meshing work when crack propagation occurred. This paper aims at achieving two specific objectives. The first is to suggest a very simple modeling scheme compared with those applied to conventional h-FEM based models. To verify the performance of the proposed model, analysis of double cantilever beams with composite materials was implemented and then the results were compared with reference values in literatures. The second one is to investigate the behavior of interior delamination problems using the proposed model. To complete these objectives, the full-discrete-layer model based on Lobatto shape functions was considered and energy release rates were calculated using three-dimensional VCCT(virtual crack closure technique) based on linear elastic fracture mechanics.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.233-240
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• 2019

Open-hole tensile tests are usually performed to measure the tensile strengths of composites as they are an essential parameter for designing composite structures. However, correctly modeling the tensile test is extremely challenging as it involves various damages such as fiber and matrix damage, delamination, and debonding damage between the fiber and matrix. Therefore, a progressive damage model was developed in this study to estimate the in-plane failure and delamination between the fiber and matrix. The Hashin damage model and cohesive zone approach were used to model ply and delamination failures. The results of the present model were compared with previously published experimental and numerical findings. It was observed that neglecting delamination during finite element analysis led to overestimation of tensile strength.

• Composites Research
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.60-65
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• 2009

The mechanical behavior of carbon fiber reinforced polymeric (CFRP) composites was investigated. Both strength and modulus were measured at room temperature dry, cold temperature dry, $-55^{\circ}C$, and elevated temperature wet, $82.2^{\circ}C$ on seven different laminate configurations consisting of $[0_6]_T$, $[90_{12}]_T$, $[0_{16}]_T$ and $[90_{16}]_T$ unidirectional laminates, $[{\pm}45]_{5S}$ angle-ply laminate, $[0/90_{12}/0]_T$ cross-ply laminate, a 36-ply laminate $[0/45/-45/45/-45/0]_{3S}$. Based on the experimental data presented, it is shown that the strength at cold temperature dry, $-55^{\circ}C$ is increased with the brittleness of fiber or matrix. Moreover, it is shown that both shear strength and modulus at elevated temperature wet, $82.2^{\circ}C$ are decreased by the cause of interfacial deterioration between fiber and matrix with moisture absorption.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.35-48
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• 2020

This paper deals with a comparative study among three different rehabilitation techniques, namely, (i) carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP), (ii) glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) and (iii) ferrocement on the flexural strengthening of reinforced cement concrete (RCC) beams. As these different techniques have to be compared on a level playing field, tensile coupon tests have been carried out initially for GFRP, CFRP and ferrocement and the number of layers required in each of these composites in terms of the tensile strength. It was found that for the selected constituents of the composites, one layer of CFRP was equivalent to three layers of GFRP and five layers of wiremesh reinforcement in ferrocement. Rehabilitation of RCC beams using these equivalent laminates shows that all the three composites performed in a similar way and are comparable. The parameters selected in this study were (i) the strengthening material and (ii) the level of pre-distress induced to the beams prior to the rehabilitation. It was noticed that, as the levels of pre-distress decreases, the percentage attainment of flexural capacity and flexural stiffness of the rehabilitated beams increases for all the three selected composites used for rehabilitation. Load-deflection behavior, failure modes, energy absorption capacity, displacement ductility and curvature ductility were compared among these composites and at different distress levels for each composite. The results indicate that ferrocement showed a better performance in terms of ductility than other FRPs, and between the FRPs, GFRP exhibited a better ductility than the CFRP counterpart.

• Composites Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.1-10
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• 2002

The strength of glass/epoxy fabric joints under pin-loading is estimated based on the characteristics length method and experiment. To investigate the effect of finite element idealization for the contact between pin and laminate, three modeling cases are analyzed; assuming the cosine load distribution around the contact area, constraining the radial displacement at the hole boundary, and using the contact element. To study the effect of failure criteria, Tsai-Wu and Yamada-Sun methods are applied on the characteristic curve. The results of the nonlinear analysis using the contact element showed good agrements with experimental data in both laminates made of uni-directional prepreg tapes and fabrics. In terms of failure criteria, Tsai-Wu method showed better agreement with experimental results than the one by Yamada-Sun laminate.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.402-410
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• 1996

Recently carbon fiber reinforced plastic(CFRP) has been used structural materials in corrosive environment such as for water, chemical tank and chemical pipes. However, mechanical properties of such materials may change when CFRP are exposed to corrosive environment for long periods of time. Therefore, it is important to understand the effect of moisture absorption on mechanical properties of the CFRP. In this study, degradation behavior of immersed carbon fiber/epoxy resin composite material was investigated using acoustic emission(AE) technique. Fracture toughness test are performed on the compact tension(CT) test specimens that are pilled by two types of laminates $[0^{\circ}_2$/$90^{\circ}_2]_3s$ and $[0^{\circ}_2$/$90^{\circ}_2]_6s$During the fracture toughness test, AE test was carried out to monitor the damage of CFRP by moisture absorption. In spite of the change of moisture absorption rate, the fracture toughness of CFRP was not change. As immersion time increased, AE event count numbers decreased in low amplitude range of AE for amplitude distribution histogram. The event in low amplitude range was known to be generated by debonding of matrix-fiber interface. Therefore, decrease of AE event count numbers in low amplitude range represents that debonding of matrix-fiber interface which was probably generated by moisture absorption.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.174-180
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• 1998

In this work, the properties of FRP, which is applied recently in the composite insulating materials, by thermal treatment were investigated. The specimens were epoxy glass laminates fabricated by thermal press method and had the volume content of 46[%] cutted $45^{\circ}C$ in the fiber direction and 1.0[mm] thickness. The experimental results showed that the amount of weight loss, wettability, surface potential, and surface resistivity increased up to 200[$^{\circ}C$] as a function of temperature. Usually, most degradations caused the hydrophilic to decrease the contact angle. But, in this work on thermal-degradated FRP, we can confirm the introduction of hydrophobic properties by cross-linking and the ablation of polar small-molecules rather than chain scission and oxidation. Finally, weight loss and contact angle increased. These phenomena show the existence of hydrophobic surface. With the change to the hydrophobic surface and the electrical potential and resistivity on FRP surface increased. But, the dielectric properties and tensile stength are decreased.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.475-481
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• 2017

An overhead travelling crane structure of two doubly symmetric welded box beams is designed for minimum cost. The rails are placed over the inner webs of box beams. The following design constraints are considered: local buckling of web and flange plates, fatigue of the butt K weld under rail and fatigue of fillet welds joining the transverse diaphragms to the box beams, fatigue of CFRP (carbon fibre reinforced plastic) laminate, deflection constraint. For the formulation of constraints the relatively new standard for cranes EN 13001-3-1 (2010) is used. To fulfill the deflection constraint CFRP strengthening should be used. The application of CFRP materials in strengthening of steel and concrete structures are widely used in civil engineering applications due to their unique advantages. In our study, we wanted to show how the mechanical properties of traditional materials can be improved by the application of composite materials and how advanced materials and new production technologies can be applied. In the optimization the following cost parts are considered: material, assembly and welding of the steel structure, material and fabrication cost of CFRP strengthening. The optimization is performed by systematic search using a MathCAD program.