87252 - Composite Materials Lab m

Academic Year 2018/2019

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Mechanical Engineering (cod. 0938)

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of composite materials. At the end of the course the student is able to:

- face the choice of composite materials and production technologies according to their application,

- check the quality of the composite materials and the components made with them

- characterize the mechanical behavior of composite materials and of components made with them

- to have a general vision on the life cycle management of composite materials in the circular economy

- to design composite materials

- to design components made with composite materials.

Course contents

The laboratory is organized into three macro sections:

1. Introduction to composite materials

2. Characterization of the mechanical behavior of composite materials

3. Study of composite materials and components made of composite materials through the use of commercial software

4. Visits in companies

The following are details of each section.

1. Introduction to composite materials

1.1. types of composite materials

- materials obtained by the stratification of different materials and sandwich structures

- materials obtained by the combination of matrix and reinforcements dispersed in the matrix

- Types of matrices and their physical and mechanical characteristics

- Types of reinforcements and their physical and mechanical characteristics

- Nanostructured composite materials

- Life cycle of composite materials

1.2. Micro-mechanics of fiber-reinforced composites, long and short, and their types of damage

1.3. Macro-mechanics of the composite lamina reinforced with long fibers

1.4 Theory of sandwiches and laminates in fiber reinforced composite materials

1.5 Theories of failure of composite materials

2. Experimental characterization of the mechanical behavior of composite materials

2.1 Realization of composite specimens in the laboratory

2.2 Quasi-static tensile and bending tests

2.3 Fracture mechanics tests (Mode I and Mode II)

2.4 Low-velocity impact tests

3. Study of composite materials and components made of composite materials through the use of commercial software.

3.1 Introduction to the use of ANSYS to simulate the behavior of composite materials and components made with them

3.2 Solid elements for composite materials

3.2 Shell elements for composite materials

3.3 Examples of modeling of composite materials

3.4 Examples of modeling of simple components to be made with composite materials (eg tubes, sheet joints)

4. The visits to local companies, that will support the course, are aimed at acquiring greater sensitivity regarding the production technologies and the design and the construction aspects of the components made by composite materials.

During the course the students, organized in groups, will also have to study and design a simple component. The component will then be realized by the students and will be verified experimentally.

Each section will be completed by exercises done in class by the teacher and by exercises that will be assigned to the students. The exercises performed autonomously should be collected by the students in an exercise book that will be discussed during the exam for eligibility. The technical report concerning the design and experimental verification of the component analyzed by the groups of students must be included into the exercise book.

Readings/Bibliography

1. Lecture notes

2. G. Caligiana, F. Cesari, I Materiali Compositi, Pitagora (2002)

3. Ever J. Barbero, Introduction to Composite Materials Design, Third Edition-CRC Press (2018)

4. D. Hull, T. W. Clyne, An Introduction to Composite Materials, Cambridge University Press (1996)

5. Isaac M. Daniel, Ori Ishai, Engineering Mechanics of Composite Materials, Oxford University Press (2006)

6. Ronald F. Gibson, Principles of Composite Material Mechanics, CRC Press (2011)

Teaching methods

Teaching will be organized in the following phases:

1. Frontal teaching in the classroom for the framing of the theoretical aspects

2. Laboratory activities for experimental activities

3. Computer lab activities for simulation activities

4. Activities at the research and development laboratories of companies that will support the course

Assessment methods

Verification by oral examination during which the following topics will be discussed:

- the exercises proposed and collected in the notebook

- the technical report on the design and experimental verification of the component studied by the students

Teaching tools

  • PowerPoint presentations
  • Audiovisual
Commercial software for material and component analysis (ANSYS)

Office hours

See the website of Tommaso Maria Brugo