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Mechanics of Composites

Technology Category: Stress Analysis

Description: Composite materials are increasingly used in the construction of lightweight high performance structural components. At Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), researchers are using advanced computer technology and material characterization methods to solve structural mechanics problems involving the latest in composite materials. In this internally funded work, innovative solution approaches are under development to overcome the unique difficulties associated with the wide ranging behaviors of composites.

At PNNL, researchers use a combination of experimental testing and micromechanical analyses to characterize a composite. The micromechanics provide accurate predictions of difficult to measure properties based on the constituent properties and the microstructure. Such models can be verified by simple experimental tests. This provides a basis for the prediction of other difficult to measure properties.

Innovative structural analysis tools are under development based on a "multicontinuum" theory. In this theory each constituent material in a composite is represented by a continuum field. Using the finite element method this theory permits the calculation of macro-stress fields for the constituents as well as the composite. For example, the fiber and matrix stresses as well as composite stresses are shown above for the analysis of an edge loaded plate with a circular hole.

Point of Contact: Mark R. Garnich (509) 375-6540