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ASTM Selected Technical Papers
Advances in Fatigue Lifetime Predictive Techniques: Second Volume
By
MR Mitchell
MR Mitchell
1
Rockwell International Science Center
,
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
;
symposium co-chairman and co-editor
Search for other works by this author on:
RW Landgraf
RW Landgraf
2
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
,
Blacksburg, VA 24061
;
symposium co-chairman and co-editor
Search for other works by this author on:
ISBN-10:
0-8031-1874-0
ISBN:
978-0-8031-1874-4
No. of Pages:
257
Publisher:
ASTM International
Publication date:
1993

An increasing number of engineering applications depend on the use of material systems such as fiber-reinforced composites. For the most part, the manner in which these systems are “designed” is presently heuristic. Although much analysis and understanding of “how such materials are made” is available, there is comparatively less systematic rigor that addresses “how such materials should be made”. This is a serious inhibition to the exploitation of these materials and material systems.

During the last few years, a variety of approaches has been developed for the analysis of composite materials, especially fiber-reinforced systems. The body of literature is especially replete in the technical area of “effective stiffness” models, many of which are sophisticated and well founded—and reasonably well validated. A comparable body of work which addresses “effective strength” is not available. However, the author and his colleagues have developed a mechanistic approach of this type, that is generally referred to as the “critical element concept,” whereby careful laboratory work is used to define representative volumes of material that enclose a “typical” failure mode. This representative volume is divided into a “critical element” that controls the final failure event, and “subcritical elements” that alter the local stress state around the critical element.

The present paper extends this concept to the fiber/matrix level by introducing micromechanical strength models to be used in the critical elements. The result of this advance is that mechanistic models that include explicit representations of the parameters that describe the manner in which the material systems are made can be used to estimate remaining strength when those parameters change during the lifetime of the material. Moreover, the model can then be used to “design” or tailor a material system for specific long-term performance. This last topic is the focus of the present paper. The approach will be demonstrated, and the influence of several parameters will be discussed. This discussion will then be used to advance several concepts for the rigorous design of material systems for damage tolerance.

1.
Composite Materials: Testing and Design
, ASTM STP 715,
Reifsnider
K. L.
, Ed.,
American Society for Testing and Materials
,
Philadelphia
,
1982
.
2.
Composite Materials: Testing and Design
, ASTM STP 787,
Daniel
I. M.
, Ed.,
American Society for Testing and Materials
,
Philadelphia
,
1982
.
3.
Hahn
,
H. T.
, “
Fatigue Behavior and Life Prediction of Composite Laminates
,”
Composite Materials: Testing and Design
, ASTM STP 674,
American Society for Testing and Materials
,
Philadelphia
,
1979
.
4.
Evans
,
A. G.
,
Williams
,
S.
, and
Beaumont
,
P. W. R.
, “
On the Toughness of Particulate-filled Polymers
,”
Ceramic Containing Systems
,
Evans
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, Ed.,
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5.
Weitsman
,
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, “
Moisture in Composites: Sorption and Damage
,”
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,
Reifsnider
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, Ed.,
Elsevier Science Publications
,
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.
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,
Reifsnider
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, Ed.,
Elsevier Science Publications
,
1990
.
7.
Bakis
,
C. E.
, “
Fatigue Behavior of Notched Carbon Epoxy Laminates During Reversed Cyclic Loads
,” Dissertation, Doctor of Philosophy in
Engineering Mechanics, College of Engineering, VPI&SU
, Blacksburg, VA,
1988
.
8.
Stinchcomb
,
W.
and
Bakis
,
C. E.
, “
Fatigue Behavior of Composite Laminates
,”
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,
Reifsnider
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, Ed.,
Elsevier Science Publications
,
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, pp. 105–180.
9.
Reifsnider
,
K. L.
, “
Performance Simulation of Polymer Based Composite Systems
,”
Proceedings of the International Symposium on Durability of Polymer Based Composite Systems, for Structural Applications
,
Elsevier Applied Science
,
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, pp. 3–26.
10.
Schapery
,
R. A.
, “
Mechanical Characterization and Analysis of Inelastic Composite Laminates with Growing Damage
,”
Mechanics of Composite Materials and Structures
,
ASME AMD
Vol.
100
,
Reddy
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and
Teply
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, Eds.,
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, pp. 1–9.
11.
Dillard
,
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, “
Viscoelastic Behavior of Laminated Composite Materials
,”
Fatigue of Composite Materials
,
Reifsnider
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, Ed.,
Elsevier Science Publications
,
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, pp. 339–384.
12.
Yeow
,
Y. T.
,
Morris
,
D. H.
, and
Brinson
,
H. F.
,
Composite Materials: Testing and Design (Fifth Conference)
, ASTM STP 674,
1979
.
13.
Weitsman
,
Y.
, “
Moisture in Composites: Sorption and Damage
,”
Fatigue of Composite Materials
,
Reifsnider
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, Ed.,
Elsevier Science Publications
,
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, pp. 385–430.
14.
Reifsnider
,
K. L.
, “
Performance Simulation of Polymer Based Composite Systems
,”
Proceedings of the International Symposium on Durability of Polymer Based Composite Systems for Structural Applications
,
Brussels, Belgium
, 27–31 August 1990,
Cardon
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and
Verchery
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, Eds.,
Elsevier Applied Science
,
New York
,
1991
, pp. 3–26.
15.
Development of Engineering Data on Advanced Composite Materials
,” AFML-TR-77-151,
Air Force Wright Aeronautical Laboratories
, OH,
1977
.
16.
Reifsnider
,
K.
and
Gao
,
Z.
, “
Micromechanical Concepts for the Estimation of Property Evolution and Remaining Life
,”
Proceedings of the International Conference on Spacecraft Structures and Mechanical Testing
,
Noordwijk, The Netherlands
, 24–26 April 1991, ESA SP-321,
10
1991
, pp. 653–658.
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