RESUMO O presente trabalho aborda a determinação das constantes elásticas efetivas de materiais compósitos estruturais de uso aeronáutico por meio de ensaio de vibração. O experimento foi conduzido em um aparato apropriado com interferômetro a laser. Inicialmente, foi realizado um ensaio de vibração do tipo livre para obtenção das frequências naturais intrínsecas à placa de compósito híbrido de alumínio aeronáutico com tecido prepreg de fibra de carbono/epóxi (CARALL). Do mesmo modo, verificou-se por meio deste método, o alumínio 2024 T3 que é uma liga metálica que pode ser aplicada em aeronaves. Tanto o alumínio quanto os compósitos foram modelados em aplicativo computacional (ANSYS) onde por meio do método de elementos finitos obtiveram-se frequências relacionadas aos seis primeiros modos de vibração. O alumínio aeronáutico apresentou uma maior precisão entre os materiais analisados em relação as suas frequências naturais. Em relação as constantes elásticas, a liga de alumínio 2024 T3 apresentou um módulo E1 de 71,3 GPa e um coeficiente de Poisson de 0,31. As constantes elásticas do CARALL foram determinadas como solução de um problema de otimização computacional descrita em linguagem própria contida em uma sub-rotina do ANSYS. Observou-se que o módulo de elasticidade principal e o coeficiente de Poisson são próximos dos valores encontrados numericamente pela regra da mistura (70 GPa e 0.3, respectivamente).

ABSTRACT This paper deals with the determination of the effective elastic constants of structural composite materials of aeronautical use by means of vibration test. The experiment was conducted in an appropriate apparatus with a laser interferometer. Initially, a free-vibration mode vibration test was performed to obtain the natural frequencies intrinsic to the hybrid composite plate (aeronautical aluminum lamina’s alternating to carbon fiber/epoxy fabric lamina’s) known as CARALL. Likewise, aluminum 2024 T3 which is a metallic alloy that can be applied in aircraft was verified by means of this method. Both the aeronautical aluminum and the hybrid composite were modeled in a computer application (ANSYS) where, through the finite element method, frequencies related to the first six modes of vibration were obtained. The aeronautical aluminum presented a greater precision between the materials analyzed in relation to their natural frequencies. Regarding the elastic constants, the 2024 T3 aluminum alloy presented an E1 modulus of 71.3 GPa and a Poisson’s ratio of 0.31. The CARALL elastic constants were determined as the solution of a computational optimization problem described in its own language contained in an ANSYS subroutine. It was observed that the main modulus of elasticity and Poisson’s coefficient are close to the values found numerically by the mixing rule (70 GPa and 0.3, respectively).

Fiber-metal laminates (FML) composed of alternating layers of unidirectional fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) laminae and aluminum-alloy sheets offer some superior mechanical properties, compared with either conventional laminates consisting of only FRP laminae or high-strength monolithic aluminum alloys. The environmental factors can limit the applications of composites by deteriorating the mechanical properties during service. Usually, polymeric matrix absorbs moisture when exposed to humid environments and metals are prone to surface corrosion. On the other hand, FML laminates presents more resistance of moisture when compared with their constituents. Evaluation of shear properties is particularly important in the design of mechanically fastened parts and components, which are subject to parallel and opposing loads. In this work, the shear behavior was studied for Glare laminates and its constituents in dry and wet conditions.

Polycrystalline graphites are widely used in the metallurgical, nuclear and aerospace industries. Graphites are particulated composites manufactured with a mixture of coke with pitch, and changes in relative proportions of these materials cause modifications in their mechanical properties. Uniaxial tension tests must be avoided for mechanical characterization in this kind of brittle material, due to difficulties in making the relatively long specimens and premature damages caused during testing set-up. On other types of tests, e.g. bending tests, the specimens are submitted to combined stress states (normal and transverse shear stresses). The Iosipescu shear test, is performed in a beam with two 90° opposite notches machined at the mid-length of the specimens, by applying two forces couples, so that a pure and uniform shear stress state is generated at the cross section between the two notches. When a material is isotropic and brittle, a failure at 45° in relation to the beam long axis can take place, i.e., the tensile normal stress acts parallel to the lateral surface of the notches, controls the failure and the result of the shear test is numerically equivalent to the tensile strength. This work has evaluated a graphite of the type used in rocket nozzles by the Iosipescu test and the resulted stress, ~11 MPa, was found to be equal to the tensile strength. Thus, the tensile strength can be evaluated just by a single and simple experiment, thus avoiding complicated machining of specimen and testing set-up.

Carbon fibres and glass fibres are reinforcements for advanced composites and the fiber strength is the most influential factor on the strength of the composites. They are essentially brittle and fail with very little reduction in cross section. Composites made with these fibres are characterized by a high strength/density ratio and their properties are intrisically related to their microstructure, i.e., amount and orientation of the fibres, surface treatment, among other factors. Processing parameters have an important role in the fibre mechanical behaviour (strength and modulus). Cracks, voids and impurities in the case of glass fibres and fibrillar misalignments in the case of carbon fibres are created during processing. Such inhomogeneities give rise to an appreciable scatter in properties. The most used statistical tool that deals with this characteristic variability in properties is the Weibull distribution. The present work investigates the influence of the testing gage length on the strength, Young's modulus and Weibull modulus of carbon fibres and glass fibres. The Young's modulus is calculated by two methods: (i) ASTM D 3379M, and (ii) interaction between testing equipment/specimen The first method resulted in a Young modulus of 183 GPa for carbon fibre, and 76 GPa for glass fibre. The second method gave a Young modulus of 250 GPa for carbon fibre and 50 GPa for glass fibre. These differences revelead differences on how the interaction specimen/testing machine can interfere in the Young modulus calculations. Weibull modulus can be a tool to evaluate the fibre's homogeneity in terms of properties and it is a good quality control parameter during processing. In the range of specimen gage length tested the Weibull modulus for carbon fibre is ~ 3.30 and for glass fibres is ~ 5.65, which indicates that for the batch of fibres tested, the glass fibre is more uniform in properties.