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The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Composites

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The attraction of composites primarily stems from their ability to replace standard lightweight/high strength metals or wood with an even lightweight/higher strength alternatively. Additionally, composites offer new design flexibilities, improved corrosion and wear resistance, low thermal conductivity and increase fatigue life.

Advantages of using composite material are:
 Composites can provide a specific modulus (ratio of material stiffness to density) that is three and half to five times greater than steel or aluminum.
 The fatigue endurance limit is much higher than for steel or aluminum.
 Composites can provide a specific tensile strength (ratio of material stiffness to density) that is approximately four to six times greater than steel or aluminum.
 Toughened composites can give impact energies significantly higher than aluminum alloys.
 The potential for corrosion is significantly reduced.
 Design flexibility is greater and can allow for physical property directionality in parts where desired.

As composites bring a lot of advantages, …show more content…

The effect of the reinforcing tabs on mode I toughness is investigated. Stitching improves the energy release rate (ERR) up to 4 times in mode I. Several test configurations have been proposed for mode II delamination toughness of carbon-epoxy composite laminates. The most commonly used of these is the end-notched flexure (ENF) configuration, (Trabelsi, Michel, Othomene, 2010, p.3). Other than that, according to Balint (2001, p.125), “Roughness on a scale that is small relative to the film thickness is assumed to be present at the interface between the delaminated film and the substrate.” The material separation und thus damage of the structure is classically described by interface elements — no continuum elements are damaged in the cohesive

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