2 Credits Lecture: 11:00 -11:50 M Room: Stark 205

Lab: Section 1 12:00 -1:50 pm M Stark 124

Section 2 12:00 -1:50 pm W Stark 124

Instructor: Beckry Abdel-Magid, Stark 203E

Office Hours: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm WF

       3:00 pm - 5:00 pm MTWF

References: 1. L.A. Carlsson and R.B. Pipes, Experimental Characterization of Advanced Composite Materials, Prentice-Hall, 1987.

2. Agarwal and Broutman, Analysis and Performance of Fiber Composites, 2nd Edition, Wiley, 1990.

3. ASTM Standards and Literature References for Composite Materials, 2nd Edition, 1990.

SACMA Recommended Methods, Suppliers of Advanced Composites Materials Association.

Catalog Description:

Course Objectives:

This course is designed to give junior and senior students in composite materials engineering an ability to experimentally characterize composite and other anisotropic materials. Students will be able to prepare specimens, perform tests and reduce the data to determine the mechanical properties of composite materials. An integral objective of this course is to learn to write laboratory reports, improve technical writing skills, reduce and present data in scientific, concise and professional manner.

This is a University Studies Program Writing Flag course. It satisfies 2 credits of the writing flag requirement. The objective of this requirement is to promote students’ abilities to:

1. practice the processes and procedures for creating and completing successful writing in their fields

2. understand the main features and uses of writing in their fields
3. adapt their writing to the general expectations of readers in their fields
4. make use of the technologies commonly used for research and writing in their fields
5. learn the conventions of evidence, format, usage, and documentation in their fields.

Course Outline:

1. Density of High-Modulus Fibers. Determination of the density of any continuous or discontinuous high-modulus fibers using the ASTM D 3800-79 Standard Test Method.

2. Determination of Fiber Volume Fraction. Volume fractions of the constituents of a composite using two test methods: the matrix burn-off method and the photomicrographic technique.

3. Strain Gage Measurements. Measurements of strains in any structural specimen using electrical resistance strain gages.

4. Lamina Tensile Response. Determination of the tensile properties of a single lamina using strain gages on test coupons. Young's moduli in longitudinal and transverse directions, major and minor Poisson's ratios, and the tensile strength of a lamina.

5. Lamina Compressive Response. Determination of the compressive properties of a unidirectional lamina. Compressive moduli and compressive strength of a lamina using strain gages.

6. Lamina Flexural Response. Determination of the stress-strain response of a lamina in bending and measure the flexural modulus and the flexural strength in the fiber direction.

7. In-plane Shear Stress-Strain Response. Determination of the in-plane shear stress-strain properties of a unidirectional lamina. In-plane shear modulus, in-plane shear strength, and maximum in-plane shear strain of a unidirectional reinforced lamina.

8. Short-Beam Shear. Determination of the apparent interlaminar shear strength of oriented fiber-resin composites using the Short-Beam Test Method.

9. Stress Concentration. Study of various conditions of stress concentration in composites, and how to determine the tensile properties of oriented fiber-resin composite laminates containing a circular hole.

10. Tension-Tension Fatigue Test. Determination of the tension-tension fatigue properties of oriented fiber composites using ASTM D 3479-76 Standard Test Method.

11. Data Acquisition. Introduction to laboratory software using LabView. Virtual instruments, editing and debugging virtual instruments, and an introduction to data acquisition systems..

12. Lamina Off-Axis Response. Using stress-strain response of the off-axis specimen subjected to axial tension, the student will be able to characterize the shear coupling phenomenon, and measure the off-axis modulus and off-axis strength of a lamina.

13. Impact Testing. Charpy, Izod and the Drop-Weight impact tests will be introduced. The drop-weight impact test will be used to measure the load-time curve.

14. Non-Destructive Evaluation of Composite Materials. An overview of damage identification in composites using ultrasonic techniques, acoustic emission techniques, imbedded fiber optics, and x-ray direction.

Course Requirements and Means of Evaluation:

Requirements: Attendance in all lectures; Performance of experiments; and

Submission of fourteen laboratory reports

Evaluation: Laboratory experiments, group work, and

communication of data 15%

Laboratory Reports 65%

Final Exam 20%

Total 100%

A grade of: 90 or above is A, 80 or above is B, 70 or above is C, 60 or above is D

In preparing a report, the organization should be considered from the standpoint of the reader. He/she is interested in the nature of the problem, the method used to attack the problem, the results obtained, and the experimenter's analysis of the results. Therefore, the report should have the following form:

Cover Letter. Response to company requesting the test services. May include a brief summary of major findings.

Title Page. This page should indicate the project, author's name, date, and course.

Table of Contents. Include titles, subtitles, appendices and page numbers.

Introduction. The nature of the project should be described briefly. Normally a few sentences will be sufficient, unless some unusual features are involved. The composite used in the test should be described in detail under this heading; this description should be based primarily on three major items: fiber classification, matrix composition, and composite type (such as prepreg, short fiber, etc.). Additional pertinent adjectives can be used, where applicable, to describe items such as: generic name, orientation, or structure.

Procedure. Standard procedures already described in textbooks or class notes need not be rewritten in the report, but they may be simply referenced. However, specific test conditions should be noted, and special aspects involved in the procedure, and not covered elsewhere, should be described.

Results. Only the final summary of results, usually either in tabular or graphical form, should be shown in this portion of the report. All other preliminary results should appear in an appendix. No results or computations of any type should be omitted from the appendix, except for the summary of results appearing in the report proper.

Discussion. There may be specific questions concerning the project, and these should be answered carefully. If the answers do not adequately cover the important aspects of the results, these should be covered in addition. Such discussion should be based on both the results of laboratory work and similar work reported in the literature. Attempts should be made to explain observed anomalies. Particularly worthwhile points of discussion are accuracy and practical significance of laboratory results. A limited amount of literature research is desirable in most cases.

Conclusions. A brief summary of the major findings and the significant implications of the test results (one paragraph, or two at the most).

References. A reference list indicating all sources of information used for the report should be given. The format of the references list should be consistent in itself and according to some standard style, one acceptable example of which is included with these instructions. Number the references and refer to each reference by the corresponding number or by the name of the author.

Appendix (or Appendices). This portion of the report should contain all laboratory sheets, calculations, secondary results, instruction sheets, and relevant data not of sufficient importance to appear in the report proper.

Neatness. Neatness is a habit developed by conscious effort. Consequently, there is no excuse for an untidy report. Typing is required. Coordination with the Writing Lab is strictly recommended. Greater attention should be given to neatness in the more important parts of the report (e.g., Title Page, Results, etc.). The laboratory sheets, on which original readings and computations are recorded, may be submitted in their original form as an appendix to the report. An effort should be made to be neat when completing these sheets in the laboratory. It is also essential that each sheet be complete with regard to sample number, date, etc.

Graphs. Graphs are frequently the most important part of the report, since they often summarize the results of the work. Therefore, a carefully considered presentation is vital. Important points to be followed in drawing graphs include the following:

1. Provide a prominent and descriptive title.

2. Clearly indicate coordinate scales and appropriate units.

3. Where a curve is based on a formulation, show a line only; do not show points through which the line is drawn.

4. Show points corresponding to experimental data clearly and distinctly; then, use a smooth prominent curve to indicate the trend suggested by these points.

5. The scale projections or grid lines crossing the graph should be thin lines which are insignificant in comparison to the curve indicating the results.

6. All curves should be drawn with a french curve, if necessary.

7. Curves and points representing different portions of the work should preferably be differentiated by use of different symbols or color print.

8. At least one inch of clear margin is desirable on all sides of the graph.

9. Pages which are read from the side should be placed with the bottom at the right-hand, or unbound, side.

Tables. When the results are reported in tabular form, titles and linework should be given care similar to that used for graphs. Thicker lines should separate major groupings, with thinner lines used elsewhere.

Further information on report writing may be found in many appropriate texts, (1,2,3).