Propagação de pulsos de impacto em barras de seção transversal variável

Numerical and experimental studles are carried on the propagation of stress pulses in elastic bars with varia tion of the cross-section in a smal region. The dynamic equation is establ ished and solved through the method of cháracteristics. Numerlcal integrati'on is obtained by finlte-differences on a characterlstic mesh, the results of which are compared with those obtained experimentaly. ln the experiments, pulses are generated by impact between a projectile and the bar.CAPESSão desenvolvidos estudos numérico e experimental da propagação de pulsos de tensão em barras elásticas com variação de seção transversal em uma pequena região. A equação dinâmica e estabelecida e solucionada pelo método das características. A integração numérica é obtida pelo processo das diferenças finitas, cujos resultados são comparados com os resultados experimentais. Nos experimentos, os pulsos incidentes são gerados pelo impacto entre um projétil e a barra

Mechanical behavior and water absorption in sisal/glass hybrid composites

This study aimed to assess the effect of hybridization on thermomechanical properties and water absorptionof composite materials, by introducing sisal fiber tissue into the material. To that end, two composite materialplates were manufactured, the first with five layers of E-glass reinforcement mat and the second with threelayers of E-glass fiber interspersed with two layers of sisal fibers, both used as an orthophthalic polyesterresin matrix. The material was then submitted to tensile, three-point bending and water absorption tests. Itwas observed that hybridization causes a change in both the final strength and stiffness of the material.Keywords: Composite material, water absorption, mechanical properties, natural fibers

Fatigue damage mechanism and failure prevention in fiberglass reinforced plastic

Damaging of composite laminates was monitored during fatigue tests, revealing the formation and propagation stages for compressive, tensile, or alternate cyclic loading. Two different laminate stacking sequences, with different number of layers, were tested. The laminates consisted of E-glass fibers reinforced orthoftalic polyester resin (FGRP) shaped as mats or (bi-direction) woven fabric textile. Preliminary density, calcination tests and static compressive and tensile mechanical tests were carried out. Then, tensile (R = 0.1), compressive (R = 10) and alternate axial (R = - 1) fatigue tests were performed at different maximum stresses. Tensile cyclic loading resulted in crack formation and propagation confirming the findings reported in other studies. On the other hand, damage from alternate and compressive fatigue depicted peculiar features. Less extended damage and better fatigue resistance were observed for the laminate with symmetrically distributed layers

Bending in laminas of NFPR: type of reinforcement, fracture and properties

Natural fiber reinforced plastics (NFRP) have awakened considerable interest in the area of polymer composites, because of the need to develop new, environmentally friendly materials. One of the most complex ways of manufacturing this type of material is in the form of ultrathin laminar layers; however, this process hinders mechanical testing, mainly three and four-point bending. The present investigation faces this challenge and shows the influence of parameters, such as the grammage of reinforcing fabric and lamination process, on strength, stiffness and fracture characteristics for three-point bending in this type of structural element. The industrially manufactured laminas were composed of orthophthalic polyester resin reinforced with licuri fibers. Macromechanical and micromechanical analyses were conducted in the study of fracture characteristics for all the parameters. The mechanical behavior in the three-point bending of the laminar composite showed that the use of licuri fiber to obtain natural fiber-based plastic is completely viable