Energy Absorption in nanocomposites at different strain rates

Swasti Gupta, P. Raju Mantena, Ahmed Al-Ostaz

Composite Structures and Nano Engineering Research Group (CSNERG)- University of Mississippi
Introduction
Objectives Nanocomposites Test methods
• Characterize impact and blast resistant Derakane 411-350 vinyl ester reinforced with
•Low-velocity impact
properties of nanocomposites •1.25 & 2.5 wt percent exfoliated graphite
•Shock tube
• Maximize energy absorption at varying strain nanoplatelets
•Split Hopkinson bar
rates •1.25 & 2.5 wt percent cloisite 30B nanoclay

Experimental Testing and Results

Low-velocity Impact Testing
o ASTM D-6110-06 with sample size of
127 mm x 9.9 mm x 12.7 mm (5” x o Typical load vs deflection
0.39” x 0.5”) and energy absorption
o 5 notched and un-notched specimen curves.
for each configuration o Approx strain rate of 13/
o Drop height of 177.8 mm (7”) sec
o Drop velocity of 1.86m/s (6.1 ft/s)
o Impact energy of 5.78 J (4.26 ft-lbf) o Energy absroption
Impact • Almost double with 2.5 wt
Tup
percent reinforcement for both
graphite nanoplatelets as well
as cloisite nanoclay un-notched
Drop specimen.s
Height Specimen • Reduced by 50% for notched
specimens with 2.5 wt percent
Span reinforced cloisite 30B
Support
nanoclay, and 75% for graphite
nanoplatelets
Shock Tube Testing
140

120
o Approx strain
100
rates of
o 254 mm x 101.6 mm x 9.9 80

1000/sec and
mm (10” x 4” x .39”) sample
60

1600/ sec for

u
sP
re
(i)

40

tested at University of Rhode 20

70 PSI and
Island
0

120 PSI
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Time (millisec)

o One sample from each Typical 120 Psi pressure respectively

profile curve
configuration in simply o Energy absorption obtained by Real time deflection
supported boundary condition converting pressure to load from image
o Shock tests performed at 70 pressure profile curve, deflection
Psi (0.48 MPa) and 120 Psi from real time image, and
(0.82 MPa) peak pressure. integrating area under the load-
o Shock wave velocities of 500 deflection curve
m/s (1640 ft/s) and 600 m/s o Samples tested at 120 Psi peak
(1968.5 ft/s) pressure shattered in pieces while
o no failure occurred for tests at 70
Real time images captured at
Psi
intervals of 100-150
microseconds o Qualitative results show similar
trend at 120 Psi peak pressure as
that of low-velocity un-notched
Split Hopkinson impactBar Testing
test results

o Typical energy absorption

curves.
o Approx. strain rate of
2500/sec and 3500 /sec

Typical sample size

o Energy absroption
0.4 0.050
Sample: DNM00AH-1
o φ 9.9 mm x 4.5 mm (φ 0.39” x 0.18”) • Increased for pure matrix with
0.2
Transmission Bar Signal
Incident Bar Signal
Reflected tensile pulse
0.025 samples tested at University of increase in strain rate.
Transmission Bar Signal, Volts

Incident Compressive Pulse

New Orleans • Increased by 30% with 2.5 wt
Incident Bar Signal, Volts

0 0 o One sample tested from each percent cloisite 30B nanoclay

configuration reinforcement for both strain
-0.2 -0.025 rates.
o Impact velocities of 15 m/s (49.2
Transmitted compressive pulse • Increased and than decreased
ft/s) and 16 m/s (52.5 ft/s)
-0.4
-0.00050 -0.00025 0 0.00025
-0.050
0.00050 for graphite nanoplatelets at
Time
2500/ sec and showed low
energy .than pure matrix for

Future Work Acknowledgment

3500 /sec strain rate.

oMore specimens to be tested using shock tube and split Hopkinson bar This research is partially supported by ONR Grant # N00014-07-1-
oFinite Element Simulation of shock tube rupture to validate energy 1010, Solid Mechanics Program (Dr. Yapa D.S. Rajapakse, Program
absorption. Manager) & SERRI/DHS TO # 4000055459.