This study focuses on understanding the damage behavior caused by the lightning strike of carbon nanotube (CNT) doped carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) composites. Quasi isotropic CFRP laminated composite plates used in aerospace structures are modeled to investigate behavior of lightning strike damage. Abaqus finite element program is used in the analysis to study the effect of different waveforms and peak currents. First coupled electrical and thermal analysis is carried out using multi-physics, the results of which are verified with the experimental data obtained in open literature. In the next step, it is assumed that CNTs in different weight percentage are added to resin and the electrical properties of the CFRP plate are updated to run coupled thermal electrical analysis. The results show that the damage area in each ply and the depth of the damage are not linear under the effect of either different waveforms or maximum strike currents. When the weight percentage of CNT doped into the resin increases, the damage region substantially decreases because the electrical conductivity through the thickness of the plate plays significant role for the lightning strike damage.
This study is part of Smart Intelligent Aircraft Structures (SARISTU) project, which aims considerable improvements in aircraft damage tolerance, electrical conductivity and weight reduction besides producibility in industrial scale. In this study, the effect of multiwalled carbon nanotube reinforcement on electrical, thermal and mechanical properties of T800/M21 carbon fibre reinforced plastic is studied experimentally. T800/M21 is a commercial prepreg carbon fibre/epoxy composite material considered for CNT treatment by means of CNT-doped thermoplastic-based dry powder. The CNTs are deposited on top of prepreg material uniformly using a controlled spraying machine selecting the best state-of-the art and innovative performing technology from the candidate technologies within the project. The electrical conductivity of the composite material with/without CNT is measured in longitudinal, transverse and thickness directions. The changes occurring in the electrical conductivity of the composite materials are investigated. In order to investigate thermal behaviour of the composite materials, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analyses are performed. Detailed thermal analysis is conducted for with/without carbon nanotube reinforced material to obtain the thermal conductivity, specific heat and thermal expansion coefficient of the material. Finally, the effect of carbon nanotube reinforcement on mechanical behaviours is studied by tensile, bending and shear tests.
This article presents a study of large tape springs to be used as ribs of an ultra-thin shell space deployable reflector. The tape spring, both longitudinally and transversely curved, is made of carbon/epoxy composite and subject to twodimensional or three-dimensional folds. The behaviour of tape springs with different dimensional parameters during folding is investigated by finite element analyses and an analytical approach. Peak moments, steady-state moments and strain levels are obtained for several parameters such as curvatures, length, thickness, subtended angle, etc. The analytical approach considers the bending strain energy during two-dimensional folding of the tape spring, and it does not capture the full behaviour due to the assumptions made for the simple solution. The results obtained by the two methods are compared where they are applicable and are in agreement for the tape springs subject to two-dimensional folds. Feasibility of the curved large tape springs as a rib-reinforcing element for the deployable reflector with 6 m diameter is investigated. A breadboard model of 90 cm diameter is manufactured and tested for packaging and deployment behaviour.
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