On elastic-plastic cracks between dissimilar media

Includes bibliographical references.Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 1988.by Edward Zywicz.Ph.D

Modeling of Composite Materials for Energy Absorption

erform laboratory experiments for characterizing basic damage mechanisms and monitoring the damage variables during impact using nondestructive evaluation techniques to determine the model constants and damage parameters. Introduction Automotive structures manufactured from carbonfiber based composites offer the potential for significant advantages in weight, durability, design flexibility, and investment cost. While substantial experience with graphite-fiber laminated composites exists in the aerospace community, little knowledge exists in how carbon-fiber composites respond in automotive type applications during impact-induced "crash" loading conditions (i.e., "crush"). Furthermore, predictive analytical and numerical tools required to accurately evaluate and design carbon-fiber automotive structures for crush do not currently exist. This project aims to understand and quantify the basic deformation and failure mechanisms active in carbon-fiber materials during veh