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Correlating the Mechanical Properties of Fiberglass Composites for Different Flaw Defects

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Conference

2023 ASEE PNW Section Conference

Location

Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington

Publication Date

April 6, 2023

Start Date

April 6, 2023

End Date

April 7, 2023

DOI

10.18260/1-2--44766

Permanent URL

https://strategy.asee.org/44766

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Paper Authors

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Abstract

Abstract Reviewed Presentation Structural weight reduction with improved functionality is one of the targeted desires of engineers, which drives materials and structures to be lighter, but without compromising critical properties such as strength, elasticity, and endurance. To reduce structural weight, lightweight composite materials are widely used in many industries including automobile and aerospace. The presence of different types of defects such as voids, inclusions, de-bonds, improper cures, and delamination are common during composite fabrication. In composite industries, engineers practice Ultrasonic Non-Destructive-Test (NDT) to detect undesirable structural defects. In this research, we will prepare different composite samples using fiberglass. Samples will be prepared with and without embedded flaws along the thickness and length directions. Samples will also be prepared where we can change the flaw geometry, such as flaw can be round, square and/or diamond shapes. Then, we will use an ultrasonic flaw tester to detect the flaws and their corresponding locations. Finally, we will conduct several tensile tests to determine the mechanical properties of those samples. We will demonstrate how accurately the ultrasonic flaw tester detects the embedded flaw’s location and size and also how the composite strength and elasticity change with different flaw orientations and shapes.

(2023, April), Correlating the Mechanical Properties of Fiberglass Composites for Different Flaw Defects Paper presented at 2023 ASEE PNW Section Conference, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington. 10.18260/1-2--44766

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