CONTROLLING DAMAGE MECHANISMS IN METAMATERIAL COMPOSITES WITH MULTISCALE INTERFACES
Abstract
The goal of the proposed research is to develop metamaterial composites that control damage, using magneto-activeelastomers and the design of the composite’s geometry. While polymer matrix composites are well known for their high stiffness, lightweight, and high strength mechanical properties, they typically suffer from subpar fracture toughness, are prone to damaging vibrations, and have no mechanism to adapt their properties in the presence of a propagating crack. The proposed work addresses these limitations of traditional composites, by engineering weak interfaces, the stiffness of which can be tuned with an applied magnetic field, in specific architectures in polymer matrix composites. Our hypotheses are that interfaces in engineered composites at different length scales control damage in composites, tunable stiffness materials can change the fracture toughness and crack propagation path of the composite through actuations, and resonant and periodic features combined with friction at interfaces in composites will mitigate damaging vibrations and enhance mechanical dissipation. The technical approach of the proposed work is to systematically study multi-scale interfaces in metamaterial composites to understand their role in controlling crack propagation. We will use advanced direct ink write methods to fabricate the metamaterial composites in complex geometries with tunable stiffness interfaces. We will experimentally characterize the mechanical properties, vibration responses, and crack propagation from micro to macro scales, and study how these properties can be controlled with magnetic actuations. We will predict the coupled magneto-mechanical-vibration properties using experimentally-informed analytical and finite element method models of the developed composites. The anticipated outcomes are new composite materials that have enhanced fracture toughness, can redirect crack propagation, and mitigate damaging vibrations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 12, 2021
- Source ID
- FA95502010036
Entities
People
- Kathryn H Matlack
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign