Thesis
Investigating mechanical property dependence on thickness and manufacturing lay-up process for glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) laminates and GFRP sandwich structures with foam core
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
12/2020
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000004215
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/125185
Abstract
GFRP (Glass fiber reinforced polymers) manufacturing has many processes two of which are hand lay-up and vacuum infusion. Hand lay-up GFRP's construction consists of stacking ply layers of glass fibers where the fibers orientation is specified. A polymer is added to bind the fibers. Pressure is applied to remove air bubbles and excess polymer. Vacuum infusion beginning with the stack of fibers a bag is placed over the stack. A vacuum is then used to draw the polymer through to saturate the fibers. This study will investigate the how material properties change due to vacuum infusion thickness, addition of hand lay-up mats to vacuum infusion laminates, and vacuum infusion thickness in hybrid vacuum infusion hand lay-up GFRP laminates. Further this study will also investigate the behavior GFRP sandwich cores. A direct correlation between fiber weight percentage and mechanical properties was observed. As fiber percentage increased the tensile modulus and compressive strength increase as well. Addition of hand lay-up mat layers has little effect on tensile, compressive, and in-plane shear tests. Examination of hybrid, vacuum infusion and hand lay-up, GFRP structures with varying vacuum infusion layer thicknesses. Increasing vacuum infusion thickness significantly increases the tensile strength, tensile modulus, and compressive modulus. GFRP sandwiches with core comprised of foam tested by flatwise tensile and 3-point bending. Flatwise test revealed that given sufficient manufacturing methods vacuum infusion and hand lay-up methods can be bonded such that failure will occur in the foam core. Thus, selection of foam core will determine the flatwise tensile strength of the sandwich. Further research can be done investigating sandwich structures. Facing structures can be altered, making single facing larger than another to investigate changes in the mechanical properties of a sandwich as a whole.
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Details
- Title
- Investigating mechanical property dependence on thickness and manufacturing lay-up process for glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) laminates and GFRP sandwich structures with foam core
- Creators
- Daniel Baird Stephenson
- Contributors
- Dae-Wook Kim (Advisor) - Washington State University, Engineering and Computer Science (VANC), School of
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Engineering and Computer Science (VANC), School of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Identifiers
- 99900896436501842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis