Composites Testing

For the winter 2019 term, material testing will need to be done on the composites to be used in MSXIV. This information is critical to calibrate the simulation work to be done on the chassis, in order to ensure that the structural chassis simulations are accurate, and viable. The information required for ANSYS are entered in the engineering data tables similar to the ones shown below.

Images 1 & 2 show the material properties necessary for simulating the carbon fiber, and image 3 shows the properties necessary for the core material

Carbon Fiber Material Testing

In order to gain the necessary information, testing will need to be conducted. There are standard ASTM tests that can give the properties of the carbon fiber to be used. The tests that seem to be the most useful at this current point are as follows:

• Tensile Testing Composite ASTM D3039
  • Tensile Strength, Tensile Chord Modulus of elasticity, tensile strain, poisson's ratio, transition strain
• Compression of Composites ASTM D3410
  • Ultimate compressive strength, ultimate compressive strain, compressive chord modulus of elasticity, compressive poisson's ratio
• Shear Response ASTM D3518
  • Maximum shear strength, shear strain, shear modulus of elasticity, offset shear strength
• Core Shear Properties of Sandwich Constructions by ASTM C393
  • Core shear ultimate stress, core shear yield stress

Core Material

For the Core material properties, it is going to be a great tool to rely on manufacturer’s information as much as possible; as this is something that isn't dependent on our manufacturing technique should be something we don't need to do ourselves.

Simulation Validation Testing

In addition to the testing to be done on the carbon fiber and the core materials, a sample composite panel should be laid up, and loaded to failure, similar to a simulation that has been set up, in order to guarantee that the results we are getting are accurate, and that we can be confident with larger scale testing.

Insert Testing

In addition to the testing that needs to be done on the composites, the inserts to be used should also be done. Many other teams have already conducted testing on inserts, and following a similar methodology to those teams will probably be the most practical way for the team to test inserts as well.

Reference: Failure behaviour of honeycomb sandwich - Corner joints & Inserts