Project

Experimental Characterisation and Model Development of the Thermomechanical Response of Notched Continuous Fibre Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites under Tension and Compression at Ambient and Elevated Temperature.

Code
3E005020
Duration
01 October 2020 → 16 April 2023
Funding
Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO)
Research disciplines
  • Engineering and technology
    • Numerical modelling and design
    • Continuum mechanics
    • Polymer composites
    • Short and long fibre reinforced composites
    • Computational materials science
Keywords
notched thermoplastic fibre reinforced composite thermomechanical characterization thermomechanical modelling
 
Project description

Engineers need to justify the usefulness of Unidirectional Thermoplastic Fibre Reinforced Polymers in mechanical design before they can be integrated in high volume production lines of automotive suppliers. For this it is vital that 1) the experimental thermomechanical properties of the material are known; and 2) material models exist which can properly predict the material behaviour. In this project the fundamental knowledge required to experimentally characterise and virtually model a thermoplastic composite is acquired by a thorough experimental and modelling study of the thermo-visco-elasto-plastic and damage behaviour. The investigation specifically targets the strain rate dependent material behaviour, the stiffness change depending on damage, temperature, load speed and loading direction, and the development of permanent strain and damage. This in different material directions and in the presence of stress concentrations. For verification and model calibration the material behaviour is characterized under uniform loading conditions. For model validation the material is tested under multiaxial loading conditions in the presence of stress concentrations. The latter is achieved by using notched coupons. Upon completion of this project the most accurate understanding of thermomechanical behaviour of thermoplastic composites is obtained. At the same time the material model will, considering the current state-of-the-art, be the most extensively validated for this material.