Assignment 1

Due Thursday January 16, 2014 Solve Problems from Chapter 1 of the Text by Gibson as indicated for your section CE421//ME457 Composite Mechanics and Design Chapter 1 Problems: 2, 4, 7, 8, 11, 12 CE521/ME557 Advanced Mechanics of Composite Materials Chapter 1 Problems: 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13

Text: Principles of Composite Material Mechanics 3rd Ed., by Ronald F. Gibson, ISBN-10: 1439850054 | ISBN-13: 978-1439850053. 2. Explain qualitatively why sandwich structures (Figure 1.5) have such high flexural stiffness-to-weight ratios. Describe the key parameters affecting the flexural stiffness-to-weight ratio of a sandwich panel.

FIGURE 1.5

Composite sandwich structure.

(Gibson 10) 4. Which of the reinforcing fibers listed in Table 1.1 would be best for use in an orbiting space satellite antenna structure that is subjected to relatively low stresses but has very precise dimensional stability requirements? The answer should be based only on the properties given in Table 1.1. 7. The 2000 mm long composite bar shown in Figure 1.45 consists of an aluminum bar having a modulus of elasticity EAl = 70 GPa and length LAl = 500 mm, which is securely fastened to a steel bar having modulus of elasticity ESt = 210 GPa and length LSt = 1500 mm. After the force P is applied, a tensile normal strain of AL = 1000 106 is measured in the aluminum bar. Find the tensile normal stress in each bar and the total elongation of the composite bar.

FIGURE 1.45 Composite bar system for Problem 7.

(Gibson 49) 8. A support cable in a structure must be 5 m long and must withstand a tensile load of 5 kN with a safety factor of 2.0 against tensile failure. Assuming a solid cylindrical cross-section for the cable as an approximation, (a) determine and compare the weights of cables made of 4340 steel and AS-4 carbon fibers that meet the above requirements and (b) for an AS-4 carbon fiber cable having the same weight, length, and safety factor as the 4340 steel cable from part (a). How much tensile load will the carbon fiber cable be able to withstand? 9. A flywheel for energy storage is modeled as a rotating thin-walled cylindrical ring (t r) as shown in Figure 1.46. Find the equation for the tensile stress in the ring as a function of the mean radius, r, the rotational speed, , and the mass density, , of the ring, then compare the maximum peripheral speed (tangential velocity) and the kinetic energy stored per unit mass of a ring made from 4340 steel with that of a ring made from IM-7 carbon fibers. For the carbon fiber ring, assume that the fibers are oriented in the circumferential direction, and that the entire tensile load is supported by the fibers.

FIGURE 1.46 Simplified model of flywheel for Problem 9.

(Gibson 49-50) 11. The concrete composite post in Figure 1.47 is 1.2 m long with a 0.3 m 0.3 m square cross-section. The post is reinforced by four vertical steel rods of the same length having a cross-sectional area of As = 0.00125 m2 each, and is loaded by a single vertical load P = 500 kN applied on the rigid cover plate as shown below. The modulus of elasticity for concrete is Ec = 17 GPa, while the modulus of elasticity of steel is Es = 200 GPa. Determine the stresses in the steel rods and the concrete.

FIGURE 1.47

Concrete composite post for Problem 11.

12. The composite bar system in Figure 1.48 consists of a steel bar and a bronze bar that are both securely attached to a rigid block and rigid supports. The system is loaded with a total load P at the rigid block. If the total applied load is P = 42,000 lb, determine the stresses in the two bars.

FIGURE 1.48 Composite bar system for Problem 12.

(Gibson 51) \

13. The composite post in Figure 1.49 has the same properties and dimensions as in Problem 11, except that there is a gap = 0.1 mm between the top of the cover plate on the post and the upper support. An upward load P is applied to the rigid cover plate, which is securely attached to the concrete and the steel reinforcing rods. If the deformation due to the load P is just enough to close the gap , determine the resulting stresses in the concrete and the steel rods, and the magnitude of the load P. Note that Figure 1.49 shows the position of the cover plate before the gap has been closed. FIGURE 1.49 Composite post for Problem 13. See Problem 11 for material properties.

(Gibson 51)