Experimental and numerical study of fatigue life for Aluminum Composite Panel (ACP) under the ranges of wind speed effect

Abstract

ABSTRACT The aluminium composite panel ACP is used as an outer decoration for building facade cladding. In general, these frontal faces of buildings are exposed to weather conditions, like (temperature, rain, wind speed, etc.). The aim of present research is investigating the wind speed influence upon the fatigue life for the ACP under a range of wind speeds varying between (4 m/s) and to (17 m/s). The mechanical properties of ACP were measured by tensile and fatigue tests. Three specimens of the tensile test were fabricated according to standard dimensions. The bending stress was applied as amplitude load, and the number of cycles to failure was recorded and plotted in the (S-N) curve. The fatigue limit was detected according to the number of cycles (106). Three models of the ACP material were simulated, using the software ANSYS version 15 at different areas (0.8, 1, and 1.2 m2), and a safety factor was detected that was generated by the fatigue load. The results manifested that the fatigue limit of the ACP material is around 2.3 MPa. The outcomes elucidated that the decrease in applied load leads to an increase in the number of cycles to failure owing to the fatigue load. On the other hand, the safe wind speed is (14.8 m/s) for the (0.8 m2) area, while (13 m/s) and (11 m/s) can be safe in the design for the areas (1 m2) and (1.2 m2), respectively. The commercial (ACP) can be used as an external decoration in Baghdad city in any tested area if the wind speed does not exceed 11 m/s due to its ability to carry out the atmospheric conditions