Prediction of the Transverse Strength of Graphite/Aluminum Composites

Abstract

The theoretical transverse tensile strength of graphite/aluminum composites was calculated using an elastic analysis technique. It was found that the theoretical behavior of the composite is quite similar to that of a multi- holed flat plate loaded in the transverse direction. Large stress concentrations build up at the fiber-matrix interface resulting in failure at low levels of applied stress. The applied failure stress decreases markedly as the volume fraction of fibers increases. It was concluded that the transverse strength for a 35 volume percent graphite/aluminum composite would probably not exceed 10 ksi (unless interleaving was used, for example) mainly because the transverse properties of the reinforcing fibers are inherently poor and the fiber-matrix bond is very weak.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1978
Accession Number
ADA056779

Entities

People

  • Dennis Riggs

Organizations

  • United States Army Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aluminum Alloys
  • Carbon Fibers
  • Composite Materials
  • Crystal Structure
  • Elastic Properties
  • Graphitic Materials
  • Materials
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Science
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Mechanics
  • Modulus Of Elasticity
  • New York
  • Physical Properties
  • Stress Concentration
  • Stresses
  • Tensile Strength

Readers

  • Mechanical Engineering/Mechanics of Materials.
  • Reinforced Composite Materials