Homework 1

Anirban Chaudhuri

1. Using the stiffness representation models discussed in Section 1.2.2, show that the transverse
stiffness, E2, of a fiber-reinforced composite material is given by Eq. (1.2.6).

1 V f Vm
Solution: Eq. 1.2.6 is = + where, Vf and Vm are the volume fractions and Ef and Em
E2 E f Em
are Youngs Moduli of fiber and matrix material respectively.

Fig 1: Rule of mixtures model of a transverse stiffness of a composite layer (Fig 1.5 in the book)

In this case the stress on the fiber and matrix material is the same which gives us

P Pf P
= = m (1)
A Af Am

where, P is the total force and A is the cross sectional area. The indices f and m represent the
respective quantities for fiber and matrix respectively.

PL
If each constituent is assumed to be an axial bar then force displacement relation gives = .
AE

In this case the length is proportional to the volume fractions.

L f = V f L, Lm = Vm L (2)

It can also be seen from the figure 1 that = f + m .

PL Pf L f PL
or, = + m m
AE2 Af E f Am Em
 L L f Lm
= + [from (1)]
E2 E f Em

L V f L Vm L
= + [from (2)]
E2 E f Em

1 V f Vm
or, = + which is the same as equation 1.2.6.
E2 E f Em

2. Assuming the packing of the fibers to be represented by the unit volume shown in Fig. 1.8,
plot the longitudinal and transverse specific stiffness, E1/ and E2/, and the weight density of
the composite, , as a function of the fiber radius (0.0rfrfmax) for a unidirectional fiber-
reinforced Graphite/Epoxy composite.

Solution: Graphite properties: Ef = 230GPa, f = 17.2 kN/m3

Epoxy properties: Em = 3.45GPa, m = 12.0 kN/m3

Fig. 2: Unit volume

rf is the fiber radius. Fiber volume fraction,

Af
Vf = = 2 rf2 ...(1)
A

Specific moduli in the longitudinal direction and weight density can be found by using
equation1.2.2.

E1 = V f E f + (1 V f ) Em = 226.55V f + 3.45 = 226.55(2 rf2 ) + 3.45(GPa ) ....(2)

= V f f + (1 V f ) m = 5.2V f + 12 = 5.2(2 rf2 ) + 12(kN / m3 ) (3)

Specific moduli in the transverse direction can be found by using equation1.2.6.

 1 V f Vm
= +
E2 E f Em
(4)
E f Em 793.5 793.5
or , E2 = = = (GPa )
V f Em + (1 V f ) E f 230 226.55V f 230 226.55(2 rf2 )

Specific stiffnesses are given by:

E1 (226.55V f + 3.45) 106 (226.55(2 rf2 ) + 3.45) 106

= = ( m) (5)
5.2V f + 12 5.2(2 rf2 ) + 12

E2 7.935 105 7.935 105

= = ( m) (6)
2.76 1.5226V f 1.17806V f2 2.76 1.5226(2 rf2 ) 1.17806(2 rf2 )2

From figure 2 it the maximum radius possible for the fiber can be found.

2
2rfmax =
2
(7)
max 2
or , r f = = 0.3536
4

Plotting equations (3), (5) and (6) in MATLAB using Vf as given by equation (1) and the
maximum limit for rf given by equation (7).
6
x 10 X: 0.3536
12 Y: 1.128e+007

10

8
E1/ (m)

0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4
rf (m)

Fig 3: Longitudinal Specific Stiffness as a function of fiber radius

 5
x 10
10

9 X: 0.3536
Y: 9.475e+005

7
E2/ (m)

2
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4
rf (m)

Fig 4: Transverse Specific Stiffness as a function of fiber radius

16.5 X: 0.3536
Y: 16.08

16

15.5

15
(kN/m )

14.5
3

14

13.5

13

12.5

12
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4
rf (m)

Fig 5: Weight Density as a function of fiber radius

Table 1: Values of longitudinal and transverse specific stiffness and weight density

rf (m) E1/ (*107 m) E2/ (*105 m) (kN/m3)

1. 0 0.2875 2.8750 12.0000
2. 0.0321 0.0409 2.8854 12.0338
3. 0.0679 0.0823 2.9227 12.1504
4. 0.1036 0.1516 2.9920 12.3504
5. 0.1393 0.2459 3.1033 12.6338
6. 0.1750 0.3618 3.2743 13.0005
7. 0.2107 0.4955 3.5367 13.4505
8. 0.2464 0.6428 3.9524 13.9839
9. 0.2821 0.7996 4.6571 14.6006
10. 0.3178 0.9624 6.0164 15.3007
11. 0.3536 1.1277 9.4750 16.0841

Plots of normalized composite longitudinal and transverse specific stiffness are also shown
below in figures 6 and 7. E1/ is normalized by the fiber specific stiffness (Ef/f = 13.37e6 m)
and E2/ is normalized by the matrix specific stiffness (Em/m = 276e3 m). The weight density is
normalized by the weight density of matrix material and the plot is shown in figure 8.

X: 0.3536
0.9 Y: 0.8435

0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4
rf (m)

Fig 6: Normalized Longitudinal Specific Stiffness as a function of fiber radius

 3.5
X: 0.3536
Y: 3.433

2.5

1.5

1
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4
rf (m)

Fig 7: Normalized Transverse Specific Stiffness as a function of fiber radius

1.4
X: 0.3536
Y: 1.34
1.35

1.3

1.25
/ m

1.2

1.15

1.1

1.05

1
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4
rf (m)

Fig 8: Normalized weight density as a function of fiber radius

3. Answer the following True/False questions:

(a) Individual layers of a fully cured laminated fiber-reinforced composite material are referred
to as the prepreg.

False: Prepreg is a tape of fibers preimpregnated with the matrix material but before curing.

(b) The stiffness of a composite ply in a direction perpendicular to the fiber is closer to the
stiffness of the matrix material than to the stiffness of the fiber.

True.

(c) Fiber volume fraction, Vf, is a measure of the total volume of fibers in a fiber-reinforced
composite material.

False: It is a measure of the fraction of volume of fibers in the composite material.

(d) Strength of a fiber reinforced composite material cannot be greater than the strength of the
individual fiber and matrix constituents.

False: The strength of the composite material can be greater than the strength of the matrix
constituents.

(e) The following laminate is a balanced laminate: [02/+45/04/902/45/-45]T.

True: A balanced laminate is such that there is a negative orientation for every occurrence of
the positive layer. This is satisfied by the given laminate.

(f) The following laminate is a symmetric laminate: [02/45/04/902/04/45/02]T.

False: In a symmetric laminate the fiber orientations of the bottom half of the laminate are
mirror images of the fiber orientations above the mid-plane of the laminate. This is not satisfied
by the given laminate. 45 plies in bottom half should be 45 in order to make it symmetric.

(g) The laminate [02/45/902/45]S is not a quasi-isotropic laminate.

False: This laminate has equal percentages 0o, +45 o, -45 o, and 90 o layers placed symmetrically
with respect to the laminate mid-plane. So it is a quasi-isotropic laminate.

(h) Bending stiffness of laminated composite materials is a strong function of the sequence of the
fiber orientations in the laminate definition.

True.
4. Write down the shortest possible representation of the following laminates:

(a) [+45/-45/0/0/+45/-45/0/0/90/0/0/0/0/90/0/0/-45/+45/0/0/-45/+45]T

[(45/02)2/90/02]S

(b) [+45/-45/0/0/+45/-45/0/0/90/90/0/0/90/90/0/0/90/90/+45/-45/0/0/+45/-45]T

[(45/02)2/(902/02)2/902/45/02/45]T

Appendix

MATLAB code used to make the plots in problem 2:

% Anirban Chaudhuri
% Aerospace Structural Composites I
% HW 1 prob 2
close all;clc;clear all;format short;format compact;
% Maximum fiber radius
rfmax = sqrt(2)/4;
% Fiber radius
rf = linspace(0,rfmax);
% Fiber Volume Fraction
Vf = 2*pi*rf.^2;
% Longitudinal Specific stiffness
E1_rho = ((3.45 + 226.55*Vf).*10^6)./(12 + 5.2*Vf);
% Transverse Specific stiffness
E2_rho = 7.935*10^5./(2.76 - 1.5226*Vf - 1.17806*Vf.^2);
% Weight Density of the composite
rho = 12 + 5.2*Vf;
% Normalizers
n1 = 13.37e6;
n2 = 276e3;
n3 = 12;

% Plotting the normalized composite longitudinal and trnasverse specific

% stiffness and weight density as a function of the fiber radius
figure(1)
plot(rf,E1_rho./n1,'k','LineWidth',2)
% plot(rf,E1_rho,'k','LineWidth',2)
xlabel('r_f (m)')
% ylabel('E_1/\rho (m)')
figure(2)
plot(rf,E2_rho./n2,'k','LineWidth',2)
% plot(rf,E2_rho,'k','LineWidth',2)
xlabel('r_f (m)')
% ylabel('E_2/\rho (m)')
figure(3)
plot(rf,rho./n3,'k','LineWidth',2)
% plot(rf,rho,'k','LineWidth',2)
xlabel('r_f (m)')
ylabel('\rho/\rho_m')
% ylabel('\rho (kN/m^3)')