Abstract
The focus of this research is to quantify the effect of load-coupling mechanisms in anisotropic composites with distinct flexibility. In this context, the study aims to realize a novel testing device to investigate tension-twist coupling effects. This test setup includes a modified gripping system to handle composites with stiff fibers but hyperelastic elastomeric matrices. The verification was done with a special test plan considering a glass textile as reinforcing with different lay-ups to analyze the number of layers and the influence of various fiber orientations onto the load-coupled properties. The results demonstrated that the tension-twist coupling effect strongly depends on both the fiber orientation and the considered reinforcing structure. This enables twisting angles up to 25° with corresponding torque of about 82.3 Nmm, which is even achievable for small lay-ups with 30°/60° oriented composites with distinct asymmetric deformation. For lay-ups with ±45° oriented composites revealing a symmetric deformation lead, as expected, no tension-twist coupling effect was seen. Overall, these findings reveal that the described novel test device provides the basis for an adequate and reliable determination of the load-coupled material properties between stiff fibers and hyperelastic matrices.
Highlights
The demand for customized products that are tailored to meet specific requirements is continually growing
The following study focuses on the realization and verification of a new test setup to determine tailored tension-twist coupling mechanisms in flexible composites
The results reveal that shearing becomes increasingly dominant depending on how significantly the fiber orientation deviates from the loading direction
Summary
The demand for customized products that are tailored to meet specific requirements is continually growing. Due to the increase in efficiency, weight reduction and performance, lightweight designs are receiving increased interest in numerous applications. Conventional materials are reaching their application limits, which creates the need to focus on multi-material solutions [1,2]. For elastomers, the additional integration of reinforcing structures has already led to promising concepts enabling higher bearable loads while good flexibility, damping and absorption performance are still retained [3]. This approach has been successfully applied in the industry such as automotive tires [4], conveyor belts [5] or fiber-reinforced elastomeric seismic isolators [6,7]. The implementation of methods, designs, and processes from nature with suitable transfer criteria into various fields of engineering is Polymers 2020, 12, 2780; doi:10.3390/polym12122780 www.mdpi.com/journal/polymers
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