Structure Of Composite Materials Research Articles

The Role of Micro Propulsion in Enabling Autonomous Operations of Nanosatellites

Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS)-based propulsion devices have significant potential for providing high specific power. The application of Micro Power Generation technology to space propulsion systems can enhance orbit and station-keeping capabilities, potentially at lower costs. New-generation spacecraft and satellites are becoming smaller and require micro-propulsion systems for all aspects of their operations. The development of micro-propulsion systems with associated combustors for micro-electricity generation, utilizing liquid fuel, presents major challenges in fuel injection, mixing, combustion, and chemical reactor systems. A micro-spacecraft with high-accuracy station-keeping and attitude control capabilities needs to have low mass and deliver small impulses. Each nanosatellite will weigh a maximum of 10 kg, including the propellant mass. Provisions for orbital manoeuvres, attitude control, multiple sensors, and instruments, along with full autonomy, will result in a highly capable miniaturized satellite. All onboard electronics will endure a total radiation dose of 100 k rads over a two-year mission lifetime. Nanosatellites designed for in-situ measurements will be spin-stabilized and equipped with a complement of particles and fields instruments. Nanosatellites intended for remote measurements will be three-axis stabilized and equipped with imaging and radio wave instruments. Key technologies under development include: advanced, miniaturized chemical propulsion systems; miniaturized sensors; highly integrated, compact electronics; autonomous onboard and ground operations; miniaturized onboard orbit determination methods; onboard RF communications capable of transmitting data to Earth from significant distances; lightweight and efficient solar array panels; lightweight, high-output battery cells; a miniaturized heat transport system; lightweight yet strong composite materials for nano-satellite and deployer-ship structures; and simple, reusable ground systems.

Design, Preparation, and Analysis of the Acoustic Performance of Waste Hemp/PLA Fiber Sound-Absorbing Composites with Different Bionic Structures

Noise pollution is becoming more and more serious, and the environmental friendliness of building materials could be better. To solve these problems, waste hemp fibers were used as reinforcement and polylactic acid (PLA) fibers as matrix. Sustainable biodegradable sound-absorbing composites with different bionic structures were prepared by carding and hot press molding process. The sound absorption properties of bionic structural composites with smooth surface,triangular wedge surface, trapezoidal prismatic surface, sinusoidal wave surface,cylindrical pit surface, and rectangular raised surface were tested. Composites were 30mm in thickness and 100mm in diameters.The bionic sound structure models was constructed according to the extracted bionic structure. The sound performance of the sound-absorbing composites was analyzed by finite element method simulation. The effects of bionic structure and sound characteristic parameters on the sound absorption performance of the composites were investigated and the sound absorption mechanism of the sound composites with bionic structures was revealed. Then the model of the cylindrical pit surface was used as a research object further to optimize the sound absorption performance. The results revealed that the optimized bionic structural composite materials had a sound absorption performance grade of II, with a sound absorption average (SAA) coefficient in the mid-frequency range of 27.16% higher than that of the smooth surface composites. The noise reduction coefficient was 0.603, and the SAA coefficient was 0.583.The results not only find a new way to recycle the waste hemp fibers, but also provide an experimental basis and theoretical basis for the optimization of sound absorption composites in building applications.

Experimental investigation on the local damage behavior of reinforced concrete-stainless steel membrane composite material structures subjected to large-scale missile impact

Large-scale membrane liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage tanks may experience missile impacts caused by wind or explosions during operation. However, the damage and dynamic response of reinforced concrete (RC) and stainless steel membrane (SSM) composite structures of the tank under such impacts remain unclear. This study addresses this gap by investigating the damage characteristics and dynamic responses of RC-SSM composite structures through eight large-scale missile impact tests. The findings reveal that the RC plates exhibit penetration, scabbing, and perforation damage. Failures at the interface between the SSM insulation system and the RC component are attributed to reverse tensile stress exerted on the rear surface of the RC plate, coupled with rebar-induced actions, ultimately resulting in detachment of its protective layer. Additionally, indirect effects from concrete conical plugs and scab fragments contribute to damage in the SSM insulation system. The impact loads cause the corrugations and knots of the stainless steel membrane to flatten, effectively absorbing a significant amount of impact energy. This observation suggests that the corrugated membrane exhibits superior impact resistance compared to flat films. To meet the requirements of "airtightness," this study establishes five damage modes and proposes an evaluation methodology for RC-SSM composite structures under large-scale missile impacts.

Nanoporous and IPN structural composite material of cyanate ester modified by hollow silica and polyimide

Cyanate ester resin (CE), a high-performance and low dielectric materials, was modified with amino hollow silica (HSMs-NH2) and polyimide resin (PI) to form an IPN structure. Reducing the crosslinking density of the composite system and accompanying with its steric hindrance effect, PI increased the free volume of the composite material. The hollow structure introduced by HSMs-NH2 further enhanced a low dielectric property. IPN structure and HSMs-NH2 also significantly improved the impact toughness of HSMs-NH2/PI/CE composites. The bonding between the Si–O–Si and HSMs-NH2 offered an excellent heat resistance and as well surface bonding capability to matrix, which reduced the decomposition and effectively improved their thermal stability. Simultaneously, profited by the hydrophobicity of Si–O–Si, HSMs-NH2/PI/CE composite materials enabled to keep low dielectric properties in humid environments.

Energy storaging multifunctional carbon fiber composites based on Nano‐SiO2 reinforced epoxy matrix structural electrolytes

AbstractMultifunctional carbon fiber composite materials capable of storing energy and carrying structural loads have advantages for aerospace structures. In this paper, a structural supercapacitor that consists of an epoxy‐based solid polymer electrolytes (E‐SPEs) and carbon fiber was proposed. To develop an E‐SPEs with better mechanical properties and ionic conductivity, Nano‐SiO2 was introduced into the solid polymer electrolytes. Nano‐SiO2 reinforced E‐SPEs (Nano‐SiO2/E‐SPEs) show improved mechanical properties (Young's modulus [E] = 0.85 GPa) and ionic conductivity (4.99 × 10−4 S cm−1), compared to E‐SPEs without Nano‐SiO2. Structural supercapacitors were further prepared by combining E‐SPEs with carbon fibers. The structural supercapacitor prepared with Nano‐SiO2/E‐SPEs exhibits the higher power and energy density (261.93 W kg−1 and 2.11 Wh kg−1) compared to the structural supercapacitor prepared with E‐SPEs without Nano‐SiO2 (51 W kg−1 and 0.34 Wh kg−1), indicating improved mechanical and energy storage properties for structural supercapacitors after incorporation of Nano‐SiO2. This strategy has great potential in enhancing performance of structural energy storage composite materials for application in next‐generation aerospace vehicles.

Open source tool for Micro-CT aided meso-scale modeling and meshing of complex textile composite structures

Volumetric image-based modeling of textile reinforcements and composites is favored over ideal geometric modeling because of its ability to represent complex structures in sufficient detail. Although several approaches were devised, there is still a scarcity of dedicated tools capable of effectively transferring pertinent information from images to high-fidelity models. This work presents the open source project, PolyTex, a Python-based object-oriented application that establishes a streamlined and reproducible workflow for such tasks. Dual kriging serves as the foundational theory for the parametric approach developed to represent, simplify, and approximate the morphology and topology of fiber tows. The code takes two types of input, either an explicit representation of tow geometry using point clouds or implicit representations, such as image masks representing fiber tows separately with grayscale values. Tailored APIs allow for smooth integration between PolyTex’s modeling capabilities and the simulation environments offered by OpenFOAM and Abaqus. Case studies on virtual testing of textile permeability were presented to demonstrate this capability. The modular and object-oriented design makes PolyTex a highly reusable and extensible tool that allows users to create a customized pipeline.

Neutron Radiography: an Overview

Although similar to X-ray and gamma-ray radiography, neutron radiography (NR) is a separate NDT method that evaluates structures somewhat differently and reveals unique internal characteristics that are often difficult to interpret using other NDT methods. Solid metals, for example, can appear nearly transparent with NR, as when analyzing hydrogenous materials in composite structures or assemblies. Although NR got its start in the mid-1900s, the technology took several decades to mature and migrate out of academic research and government experimentation and into the profession of NDT. Even today, NR has limited applications but is gradually gaining traction, especially where conventional X-ray and gamma-ray imaging are not possible. This article provides an overview of the method, along with recent content from ASNT’s media channels.

In situ catalyzed growth of carbon nanotube with asphalt cladding as a bicarbon synergistic framework of silicon anodes for lithium-ion batteries.

Silicon, as the most promising advanced anode material for lithium-ion batteries, faces challenges in large-scale industrial production due to the significant volume expansion effect. In this investigation, Si/CNTs/C composite materials were effectively produced through high-temperature carbonization utilizing asphalt, silicon, hexahydrate ferric chloride, and melamine as primary elements. The distinctive dual-carbon framework of asphalt-derived carbon and carbon nanotubes alleviates the volume expansion of silicon, thereby stabilizing the composite material's structure. Testing the electrochemical performance reveals that the Si/CNTs/C composite material exhibits a reversible specific capacity of 1187 mAh g-1 with a capacity retention rate of 92.6% after 150 cycles at a current density of 0.2 A g-1. Even after 500 cycles at a current density of 1 A g-1, it sustains a specific capacity of 879.4 mAh g-1 with a capacity retention rate of 87.9%, showcasing outstanding electrochemical performance.

Harmonizing lightweight and ablation resistance: Design and performance of multilayer composite insulation materials for solid rocket motors

AbstractThe realization of lightweight insulation materials is often accompanied by a decrease in ablation performance. Coordinating the contradiction between lightweight and ablation resistance is the key to the development of thermal protection technology. Addressing the need for high‐performance insulation materials within solid rocket motors (SRMs) combustion chambers, we designed three multilayer composite structural insulation materials and studied their properties. The results show that among these constructed multilayer composites, the bilayer structure exhibited the lowest density at a mere 0.72 g/cm3, marking a 27% reduction compared to the basic structure. Remarkably, the bilayer configuration demonstrated superior ablation resistance, showcasing a 25% decrease in the line ablation rate in contrast to the basic structure after oxygen‐acetylene test. This achievement embodies the successful harmonization of lightweight properties with ablation resistance. Furthermore, based on the performance and microstructure of the char layer, a further analysis revealed the enhancement mechanism of ablative performance by the multilayer composite structure. It was found that the synergistic effect of the compact/porous structure of the char layer grants the bilayer structure thermal insulation material optimal ablative performance. This work provides strong support for improving the performance of SRMs.Highlights Insulation materials with multilayer composite structures are designed. The materials exhibit both lightweight and superior ablation resistance. Compact/porous char layers enhance material ablation performance.

Mechanically durable plant-based composite surface towards enhanced antifouling properties

The biofouling adhering to underwater facilities has a negative impact on the environment, energy, and economic development. However, conventional anti-adhesion organic silicon and organic fluorine materials often have poor adhesion properties and mechanical stability when combined with substrates. This work presents a novel strategy for preparing composite antifouling coatings that low surface energy plant-based carnauba wax (CW) covering through rough substrates and chemically bond with flexible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) oligomers or polymers. The CW coating adheres strongly to the substrate owing to the mobility of the liquated CW, which flows into the micro-nano structure of the substrate and solidifies on the solid surface. The polymerization reaction of (PDMS) oligomers compounded the coating, thereby creating a composite coating with superior lubricating and antifouling properties. This distinctive bonding process imbued the coating with exceptional characteristics, including remarkable mechanical stability in destructive tests as well as an impressive ability to repel fouling, such as protein attachment, bacterial adhesion, diatom deposition, and biofilm formation. This work systematically investigated the impact of the composition and structure of composite materials on their mechanical stability and resistance to fouling, and developed high-performance antifouling coatings in the real world.

Inductive Frequency-Coded Sensor for Non-Destructive Structural Strain Monitoring of Composite Materials

Structural composite materials have gained significant appeal because of their ability to be customized for specific mechanical qualities for various applications, including avionics, wind turbines, transportation, and medical equipment. Therefore, there is a growing demand for effective and non-invasive structural health monitoring (SHM) devices to supervise the integrity of materials. This work introduces a novel sensor design, consisting of three spiral resonators optimized to operate at distinct frequencies and excited by a feeding strip line, capable of performing non-destructive structural strain monitoring via frequency coding. The initial discussion focuses on the analytical modeling of the sensor, which is based on a circuital approach. A numerical test case is developed to operate across the frequency range of 100 to 400 MHz, selected to achieve a balance between penetration depth and the sensitivity of the system. The encouraging findings from electromagnetic full-wave simulations have been confirmed by experimental measurements conducted on printed circuit board (PCB) prototypes embedded in a fiberglass-based composite sample. The sensor shows exceptional sensitivity and cost-effectiveness, and may be easily integrated into composite layers due to its minimal cabling requirements and extremely small profile. The particular frequency-coded configuration enables the suggested sensor to accurately detect and distinguish various structural deformations based on their severity and location.

Black phosphorus modified wearable textile with excellent flame retardancy for personal thermal management and motion detection

A sandwich structure composite phase change textile material (CPCTM) was prepared by electrospinning. In the top and bottom layers, black phosphorus nanosheets (BPNs) was compounded into polyacrylonitrile (PAN). In the middle layer, the phase change thermal energy storage material polyethylene glycol (PEG) was well encapsulated by polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). By designing multilayer structure, the CPCTM exhibited excellent intensity with the tensile strength 62.65 MPa and the elongation at break 1176 %. The melting temperature and the crystallization temperature of CPCTM were 54.36 ℃ and 31.43 ℃ which were lower than pure PEG (55.87 ℃ and 35.55 ℃). The lower melting and crystallization temperature facilitated the storage of heat in CPCTM for body thermal management. Compared with that of pure PAN, the total heat release and total smoke production of the PAN@BP were respectively descended by 33.05 % and 80.43 %. During combustion, transfer of combustible gases and heat were hindered due to the formation of the expanded char layer by the BPNs. Meanwhile, the CPCTM showed excellent flexibility and ability of motion detection, which had broad application prospects in the fields of wearable electronic devices.

The acoustic Galton board

Phononic crystals are a class of materials with periodic structures that influence the propagation characteristics of acoustic waves through periodically arranged structural units. Here, we have developed the acoustic Galton board (AGB), a groundbreaking apparatus that serves as a cost-effective and user-friendly tool for demonstrating phononic crystal properties such as band gaps, Bragg scattering, and local resonance. The device comprises an elastic wave signal generator, an enhanced Galton board featuring a sophisticated pillar-nail array, and a signal receiver. The experimental results we have obtained demonstrate the significant impact of the AGB on elastic wave dispersion, effectively creating bandgaps that impede wave transmission within specific frequency ranges while allowing unhindered propagation in others. Furthermore, the AGB can simulate phononic crystals using both the Bragg scattering mechanism, achieved through the design of periodic rigid pillar-nail arrays, and the locally resonant mechanism, facilitated by the design of pillar-nail arrays with composite material structures. Additionally, the AGB can extend its applications to serve as a simulation tool for elastic metamaterials.

The Role of Methods for Applying Cucurbit[6]uril to Hydroxyapatite for the Morphological Tuning of Its Surface in the Process of Obtaining Composite Materials

In this work, composite materials were obtained for the first time using various methods and the dependences of the resulting surface morphologies were investigated. This involves modifying the surface with cucurbit[n]urils, which are highly promising macrocyclic compounds. The process includes applying cucurbit[6]uril to the hydroxyapatite surface in water using different modification techniques. The first method involved precipitating a dispersion of CB[6] in undissolved form in water. The second method involved using fully dissolved CB[6] in deionized water, after which the composite materials were dried to constant weight. The third method involved several steps: first, CB[6] was dissolved in deionized water, then, upon heating, a dispersion of CB[6] was formed on the surface of HA. The fourth method involved using ultrasonic treatment. All four methods yielded materials with different surface morphologies, which were studied and characterized using techniques such as infrared (IR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Based on these results, it is possible to vary the properties and surface morphology of the obtained materials. Depending on the method of applying CB[6] to the surface and inside the HA scaffold, it is possible to adjust the composition and structure of the target composite materials. The methods for applying CB[6] to the hydroxyapatite surface enhance its versatility and compatibility with the body’s environment, which is crucial for developing new functional composite materials. This includes leveraging supramolecular systems based on the CB[n] family. The obtained results can be used to model the processes of obtaining biocomposite materials, as well as to predict the properties of future materials with biological activity.

Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Films: Structure Design and Prospects.

The popularity of portable and wearable flexible electronic devices, coupled with the rapid advancements in military field, requires electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials with lightweight, thin, and flexible characteristics, which are incomparable for traditional EMI shielding materials. The film materials can fulfill the above requirements, making them among the most promising EMI shielding materials for next-generation electronic devices. Meticulously controlling structure of composite film materials while optimizing the electromagnetic parameters of the constructed components can effectively dissipate and transform electromagnetic wave energy. Herein, the review systematically outlines high-performance EMI shielding composite films through structural design strategies, including homogeneous structure, layered structure, and porous structure. The attenuation mechanism of EMI shielding materials and the evaluation (Schelkunoff theory and calculation theory) of EMI shielding performance are introduced in detail. Moreover, the effect of structure attributes and electromagnetic properties of composite films on the EMI shielding performance is analyzed, while summarizing design criteria and elucidating the relevant EMI shielding mechanism. Finally, the future challenges and potential application prospects of EMI shielding composite films are prospected. This review provides crucial guidance for the construction of advanced EMI shielding films tailored for highly customized and personalized electronic devices in the future.

Design of radio-transparent shelters using an optimized mathematical apparatus for analytical strength calculations

The main aspects of the design of radio-transparent shelters have considered, taking into account the provision of the required strength, mass-centering radio engineering characteristics, as well as the temperature of the environment inside the radome at all stages of product operation. The use of new structural and functional composite materials in modern technology makes it possible not only to reduce the total weight of the structure by 30 – 35%, but also to significantly increase the reliability of operation compared to materials based on epoxy binders. It is promising to use heat-resistant thermosetting binders and materials based on them for the manufacture of friction units that require lubrication and as high-temperature thermal insulation of critical elements of aerospace engineering. Analytical dependences make it possible to select a preliminary RPR design and, at the initial design stage, assign a minimum wall thickness. However, further solution of the complex problem of ensuring the shape, stability and strength using the simulation of the stress-strain state of radio-transparent composite structures is advisable to carry out by the finite element method. The disadvantages of fiberglass include the fragility of the fibers, low density and a tendency to shrink. In this regard, the analysis of materials for the manufacture of fairings for the protection of electronic equipment have currently being carried out and the technique used to analyze the possibility of using fiberglass fairings can be applied to various composite materials.

Comparative analysis of the heavy-weight floor impact noises using different types of EVA resilient materials

The present study aims to improve the floor impact noises using various shapes of EVA resilient materials in composite floor structures. In order to this, three different types of EVA resilient materials were used including flat plate, deck plate type and cavity type of EVA boards. All the composite structure consisted of PP panel, PET and EVA resilient materials with a total depth from 30mm to 40mm. Total of 9 specimens were made for floor impact sound measurements. All the floor impact sound measurements were done at the recognized testing authority using bang machine. The values of L'I,Fmax,AW were deduced from every measurements. As a result, among the various types EVA resilient materials, most high performances were drawn when cavity type of EVA resilient material was used. It was shown that the average L'I,Fmax,AW value of cavity type was 46dB while 47dB for deck plate type, 48dB for flat plate were measured in average. It can be recognized that the good performance of cavity type EVA materials is caused by the both air layer gap beneath EVA board and air cavity inside the EVA board as well as the low dynamic elastic modulus of EVA.

Experimental study on damage of steel fiber reinforced concrete- and wood-filled GFRP tubes under axial compression

In order to reduce the self-weight of concrete structures and improve its corrosion resistance, it is an effective way to fill GFRP tubes with wood columns instead of part of concrete. However, concrete structures are prone to cracks, which will reduce the bearing capacity of the structure and affect the safety and applicability of the structure. Incorporating the steel fibers (SF) in concrete seems to be an excellent solution to limit crack propagation and improve the ductility of concrete structures. Based on the premise, in this paper, a new type of structure composite material of steel fiber reinforced concrete- and wood-filled GFRP tubes was developed. The mechanical properties, damage evolution process and crack fractal characteristics of steel fiber reinforced concrete- and wood-filled GFRP tubes under axial compression with different SF volume fractions (0 %, 1 %, 1.5 % and 2 %) were studied by acoustic emission (AE) technology. The finite element method (FEM) was established to simulate the test work and expand the analysis. The results showed that the bearing capacity and ductility of the specimens increased first and then decrease with the increase of SF content, and the specimens with 1.5 % volume fraction of SF showed the best mechanical properties. According to the characteristics of AE ringing counts, the damage process of the specimen was described by three marker events, which were concrete cracking, wood cracking and GFRP tube fracture. The incorporation of SF increased the intensity of AE signal and the proportion of shear cracks, and reduced the damage scale. The fractal dimension of concrete surface cracks had a good correlation with the degree of local damage and the complexity of crack propagation. The damage evolution model based on AE cumulative events and stress obeyed the two-parameter Weibull distribution. The incorporation of SF reduced the degree of damage, and the parameter m had a negative correlation with brittleness. In addition, the damage process of the specimens revealed by the FEM matched well with the experimental results. Additionally, the incorporation of SF made the stress distribution of each part of the specimen more uniform and avoided the phenomenon of stress concentration.

Being thin-skinned can still reduce damage from dynamic puncture.

The integumentary system in animals serves as an important line of defence against physiological and mechanical external forces. Over time, integuments have evolved layered structures (scales, cuticle and skin) with high toughness and strength to resist damage and prevent wound expansion. While previous studies have examined their defensive performance under low-rate conditions, the failure response and damage resistance of these thin layers under dynamic biological puncture remain underexplored. Here, we utilize a novel experimental framework to investigate the mechanics of dynamic puncture in both bilayer structures of synthetic tissue-mimicking composite materials and natural skin tissues. Our findings reveal the remarkable efficiency of a thin outer skin layer in reducing the overall extent of dynamic puncture damage. This enhanced damage resistance is governed by interlayer properties through puncture energetics and diminishes in strength at higher puncture rates due to rate-dependent effects in silicone tissue simulants. In addition, natural skin tissues exhibit unique material properties and failure behaviours, leading to superior damage reduction capability compared with synthetic counterparts. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the inherent biomechanical complexity of biological puncture systems with layered composite material structures. They lay the groundwork for future comparative studies and bio-inspired applications.

The Influence of Aluminosilicate Cenospheres on the Structure and Properties of Elastomeric Composite Materials Based on Ethylene–Propylene–Diene Elastomers

The Influence of Aluminosilicate Cenospheres on the Structure and Properties of Elastomeric Composite Materials Based on Ethylene–Propylene–Diene Elastomers