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Faculty of Aerospace Engineering Aerospace Materials & Structures

31 January 2013

Fibre diameter optimization for Fibre Metal Laminates


Author/1st Supervisor: Ren Alderliesten Tel.015 278 5492 / Fax.015 278 1151 / R.C.Alderliesten@tudelft.nl

Introduction
This document describes a MSc thesis assignment on the optimization of the fibre diameter of Glass fibres within the Fibre Metal Laminate (FML) GLARE. This study comprises both the analytical/numerical evaluation of the effects the fibre diameter has on the mechanical properties in relation to the fibre volume fraction or the pre-impregnated fibre layers, and the experimental validation of this analysis with FMLs based on 2 or 3 fibre diameters. The work is being performed in a joint collaboration with GTM-Advanced Structures, which currently pursues the development of advanced fibres for future FML applications with glass fibre manufacturers.

Background
The Fibre Metal Laminate GLARE contains two constituents; the aluminium 2024-T3 sheet material (ranging in thickness from about 0.3-0.5) and the S2-glass fibres embedded in Cytec FM94 epoxy resin. The latter is delivered as preimpregnated material (referred to as prepregs), which is manually laid-up between the aluminium sheets, for subsequent curing in an autoclave. Up until today, the prepreg is manufactured with a certain fibre volume fraction, which has been determined based upon the mechanical properties of the FMLs. This prepreg utilized a glass fibre with a given diameter. The relation between fibre diameter, fibre volume fraction and mechanical properties of the FMLs has not been established up until today. In a quest to optimize the FML lay-up and prepreg FVF, the question can be raised whether the fibre diameter could be of influence.

Potential applications
The investigation may result in an optimization of the FML lay-up based upon the fibre diameter applied in the prepreg. This optimization may result in better FML properties necessary for certain applications.

Objectives
The general objectives are Develop relationships between fibre diameter, wetted area, FVF and nominal prepreg thickness Develop relationships between the FVF and nominal prepreg thickness and the mechanical properties of FMLs Develop relationships between the FVF and nominal prepreg thickness and the fatigue properties of FMLs Validate the relationships with a selection of dedicated tests based on different fibre diameters.

Activities
The research project consists of the following activities Develop an analytical or numerical model to predict the relation between fibre diameter, wetted area, FVF and nominal prepreg thickness Adapt existing methodologies to predict the mechanical properties of FMLs to incorporate the FVF as parameter. Optimize the FMLs using the obtained relation between fibre diameter and FVF for a selection of mechanical and fatigue properties Perform experiments on a selection of relevant cases using prepregs with different fibre diameters Validate the relationships with the experimental results Report the work

MSc thesis description 01/13

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