The course project will involve five aspects: (Demonstration of Fabrication, Machining, Testing), Analysis and a Report. The Fabrication, Machining and Testing components will be demonstrated to students; Analysis and Report Writing should be done by each individual student. Experiments will be conducted on two materials systems: E-Glass/Polyvinyl and Graphite/Epoxy (IM7/8551).

Fabrication

  For E-Glass Fibers: M -> Chopped Fiber Mat, W -> Plain Woven Fibers.

 Groups 1

  a.) Fabricate a 7-layer E-Glass/Polyvinyl Plate with dimensions of 6" X 11" composed of all chopped fiber mat.Be Careful during the layup!

  b.) Fabricate a symmetric 24-layer Graphite/Epoxy Plate with dimensions of 5" X 11" composed of a layup sequence (0/45/-45/90/0/90/30/-30/90/-45/45/0)s. Be Careful during the layup!

 Groups 2

  a.) Fabricate a 9-layer E-glass/Polyvinyl Plate with dimensions of 6" X 11" composed of alternating layers of fibers in the sequence MWMWMWMWM.Be Careful during the layup!

  b.) Fabricate a symmetric 24-layer Graphite/Epoxy Plate with dimensions of 5" X 11" composed of a layup sequence (90/45/-45/0/90/0/0/45/-45/30/-30/0)s. Be Careful during the layup!

Groups 3

  a.) Fabricate a 9-layer E-glass/Polyvinyl Plate with dimensions of 6" X 11" composed of alternating layers of fibers in the sequence MWMWMWMWM. All the Woven fibers must be at 30^o to the specimen axis.Be Careful during the layup!

  b.) Fabricate a symmetric 24-layer Graphite/Epoxy Plate with dimensions of 5" X 11" composed of a layup sequence that includes only (+-45)6s .Be Careful during the layup!

 Groups 4

  a.) Fabricate a 24-layer Graphite/Epoxy Plate with dimensions of 5" X 11" composed of all 0o plies.Be Careful during the layup!

  b.) Fabricate a symmetric 25-layer E-Glass/Polyvinyl Plate with dimensions of 7" X 21" composed of a layup sequence (M/0/M/45/M/45/M/45/M/45/M/0/M)s. Be Careful during the layup!

 Groups 5

  a.) Fabricate a 24-layer Graphite/Epoxy Plate with dimensions of 5" X 11" composed of all 90o plies.Be Careful during the layup!

  b.) Fabricate a symmetric 25-layer E-glass/Polyvinyl Plate with dimensions of 7" X 21" composed of a layup sequence (M/0/M/45/M/0/M/45/M/30/M/0/M)s. Be Careful during the layup!

Machining

  E-glass/Polyvinyl and Graphite/Epoxy - Wet composite cutting saw at SU

  G-10 Tabs must be machined for all Tensile Test Specimens and Glued onto the ends of the specimen using the tabbing fixture and epoxy; make sure the fixture is thoroughly waxed prior to using!!!

 Group 1

  a.) Machine two 10" X 1" Tensile Test Specimens from the E-Glass/Polyvinyl Plate then attach G-10 tabs to the ends.

  b.) Machine two 10" X 0.75" Tensile Test Specimens from the Graphite/Epoxy Plate with the specimen axis along the 0o plate direction then attach G-10 tabs to the specimen ends.

 Group 2

  a.) Machine two 10" X 1" Tensile Test Specimens from the E-Glass/Polyvinyl Plate then attach G-10 tabs to the ends.

  b.) Machine two 10" X 0.75" Tensile Test Specimens from the Graphite/Epoxy Plate with the specimen axis along the 0o plate direction then attach G-10 tabs to the specimen ends.

 Group 3

  a.) Machine two 10" X 1" Tensile Test Specimens from the E-Glass/Polyvinyl Plate then attach G-10 tabs to the ends.

b.) Machine two 10" X 0.75" Tensile Test Specimens from the Graphite/Epoxy Plate with the specimen axis along the 0o plate direction then attach G-10 tabs to the specimen ends.

 Group 4

  a.) Machine two 10" X 0.75" Tensile Test Specimens from the Graphite/Epoxy Plate with the specimen axis along the 0o ply direction then attach G-10 tabs to the specimen ends.

  b.) Machine two 19" X 2" Bending Test Specimens from the E-Glass/Polyvinyl Plate.

 Group 5

  a.) Machine two 10" X 0.75" Tensile Test Specimens from the Graphite/Epoxy Plate with the specimen axis along the 90 o ply direction then attach G-10 tabs to the specimen ends.

  b.) Machine two 19" X 2" Bending Test Specimens from the E-Glass/Polyvinyl plate.

 Testing& Results (All tensile tests had a one inch gage length).

  Prior to each test, accurately measure and record the dimensions of the test specimens using appropriate instruments (micrometer, caliper, etc.).

 Group 1

  a.) Conduct Tensile Tests on the E-Glass/Polyvinyl specimens collecting Load vs Strain Data; store as Excel file on diskette and Plot. (Data to be used for prediciton of 4b and 5b)

  b.) Conduct Tensile Tests on the Graphite/Epoxy specimens collecting Load vs Strain Data; store as Excel file on diskette and Plot. (Also to be theoretically predicted)result

  Group 2

  a.) Conduct Tensile Tests on the E-Glass/Polyvinyl specimens collecting Load vs Strain Data; store as Excel file on diskette and Plot. (Data to be used for prediciton of 4b and 5b)

  b.) Conduct Tensile Tests on the Graphite/Epoxy specimens collecting Load vs Strain Data; store as Excel file on diskette and Plot.  (Also to be theoretically predicted)result

 Group 3

  a.) Conduct Tensile Tests on the E-Glass/Polyvinyl specimens collecting Load vs Strain Data; store as Excel file on diskette and Plot. (Data to be used for prediciton of 4b and 5b)

  b.) Conduct Tensile Tests on the Graphite/Epoxy specimens collecting Load vs Strain Data; store as Excel file on diskette and Plot. (Data to be used for prediciton of 1b and 2b)result

Group 4

  a.) Conduct Tensile Tests on the Graphite/Epoxy specimens collecting Load vs Strain Data; store as Excel file on diskette and Plot. (Data to be used for prediciton of 1b and 2b)result

  b.) Conduct Bending Tests on the E-Glass/Polyvinyl specimens collecting Load vs Deflection Data; store as Excel file on diskette and Plot.  (Also to be theoretically predicted)

 Group 5

  a.) Conduct Tensile Tests on the Graphite/Epoxy specimens collecting Load vs Strain Data; store as Excel file on diskette and Plot.  (Data to be used for prediciton of 1b and 2b)result

  b.) Conduct Bending Tests on the E-Glass/Polyvinyl specimens collecting Load vs Deflection Data; store as Excel file on diskette and Plot.(Also to be theoretically predicted)

Analysis (Each Student - Individually) (Section (I.a) and (II.a) of the analysis are straight forward.  Example 6.9 (in your book)  is a simple problem that will give you some guidance in approaching the prediction part of the analysis, i.e., (I.b) and (II.b).  Use maximum stress theory for your analysis.  Take the thickness of each lamina to be the thickness of the laminate divided by # of layers. Remember that the laminates are symmetric, therefore the [B]=0, and thus the resultant in-plane force and bending moment equations can be uncoupled. The fiber volume fraction of the Graphite/Epoxy 55%.)

 I. E-Glass/Polyvinyl
 
 

 II. Graphite/Epoxy

  a.) Determine sLU, sTU, EL and ET for individual plies from the Graphite/Epoxy test results collected by groups 3, 4 and 5.  (Based on Section (b) of tests done in group 3, and Section (a) of tests done in groups 4 and 5; use posted data).

  b.) Based on the results of (II.a.), predict the load versus strain behavior for the Graphite/Epoxy laminates which was tested by groups 1 or 2 as test section (a) (do only one); include the effects of layer failures, elastic modulus and ultimate strength; do the analysis ply-by-ply.

  c.) Compare the predictions of part (II.b.) with the collected Graphite/Epoxy test results of groups 1or 2(do the same one as II.b); discuss and explain your findings.

 Report (Each Student - Individually)

  Organize the course project into a formal report which includes a minimum of the following sections:

  - Title Page

- Abstract (Project Summary)

- Table of Contents

- Objectives

- Procedures (Summarized)

- Test Results

- Analysis

- Discussion/Conclusions

- Bibliography/References