Institute of Fundamental Technological Research

This paper studies the effect of prestress force magnitude on natural frequencies and dynamic behaviour of eccentrically prestressed glass fibre reinforced polymer composite beams, including the theoretical background, numerical results and experimental verification. The term prestress indicates the initial tensile stress applied to the fibres embedded in selected external layers of the composite material. First, the paper presents the theoretical background of the finite element method modelling of prestressed composites. Then, the results of numerical simulations conducted for a five-layered glass-epoxy composite beam are presented. The natural frequencies corresponding to three initial bending modes are analyzed for different prestressing force levels and for different fibre volume content. Finally, the results are verificated by experimental modal analysis conducted on three different glass-epoxy composite specimens of various mechanical parameters. Both the numerical results obtained from finite element method and the experimental results obtained from experimental modal analysis reveal that the first bending frequency increases and the two subsequent bending frequencies decrease due to the prestressing force. The comparison of numerical and experimental data confirms the effect and allows to quantify the influence that the prestress force has on the natural frequencies of composites, which is an interesting and practically relevant phenomenon.

Prestressed structures, laminated composites, prestressed reinforced composites, glass fibre reinforced polymer composite materials, vibrations, finite element method

This paper presents a preliminary research aimed at developing a comprehensive approach to modeling, manufacturing and optimal design of prestressed FRP composite structures. A simple and effective analytical model of prestressed composite is derived and further verified by two numerical models and the results of the experimental tests conducted on manufactured prestressed composite samples. The model reveals beneficial influence of prestress on strain and stress distribution in particular plies and resulting improvement of the global response of the composite. A design case-study of prestressed composite is presented and challenges related to design and application of more complicated composite prestressed structures are discussed.

Prestressed structures, Laminated composites, Prestressed FRP reinforced composites

The proposed approach assumes that the composite structure is equipped with a specially designed electrical circuit with a 3D grid layout, composed of high resistivity elements embedded in the structure. The special layout of the electrical circuit activated by small currents provides scattered sources of thermal field in the laminate. It is assumed that the circuit elements exhibit failure which is coincident with the commencement of delamination. These breaks in the electrical circuit cause variations in the thermal field which can be observed by a long-wave thermovision camera. The paper is focused on two research aspects. First, some numerical simulations are presented to examine the potential of the idea itself. Next, a simple experiment using a composite sample with a hand-fabricated electrical grid is described. The performance of the grid for an arbitrarily selected position of defect in the investigated composite shows high potential for damage detection.

New method for semi-active control of vibrating structures is introduced. So-called Prestress Accumulation-Release (PAR) strategy aims at releasing of the strain energy accumulated in the structure during its deformation process. The strain energy is converted into kinetic energy of higher modes of vibration which is suppressed with structural damping or by means of a damping device. The adaptation process essentially affects the first mode vibrations by introducing an elastic force that opposes the movement. Numerical simulations as well as experimental results prove that the strategy can be very effective in mitigating of the fundamental mode of a free – vibrating structure. In a numerical example 95% of the vibration amplitude was mitigated after two cycles. An experimental demonstrator shows 85% reduction of the amplitude in a cantilever free- vibrations. In much more complex practical problems smaller portion of total energy can be released from the system in each cycle, nevertheless the strategy could be applied to mitigate the vibrations of, for example, pipeline systems or pedestrian walkways.

The problem of modelling and identification of delamination in double-layer beams has been undertaken within the framework of the virtual distortion method. For delamination modelling, a concept of the contact layer has been proposed, assuming simple but effective truss connections. The laminate layers have been modelled with Bernoulli beams. Good correspondence of the delamination model with experiments has been observed despite disregarding the friction between layers. An algorithm for off-line identification of delamination, solving an inverse problem with the use of gradient optimization, has been proposed. For double cantilever beam examples, two co-existing delamination zones have been successfully detected. An idea of on-line identification of delamination has been put forward, too.

Delamination, Double-layer beams, Identification, Inverse problem

The paper introduces the concept of prestressing selected layers of laminated composite in order to increase its stiffness and improve its overall mechanical response. Both analytical and numerical models of prestressed composites are proposed and utilized to optimize applied prestressing forces. Further, dedicated laboratory stand and developed methodology of experimental evaluation are described. The final part of the paper briefly discusses prospective applications of prestressed composites.

prestressed structures, laminated composites, prestressed reinforced composites

The concept of increasing strength capacity of structural elements by introducing preliminary stresses, counteracting the exploitation stresses, is known for years. Large number of applications of pre-stressed materials in civil engineering proves that proper compression of material can effectively increase the strength of structural elements. Because of the rapid development of composite materials, and growing demand for light materials with particularly high stiffness and strength properties, the pre-stressed FRP composites application in industry seems to be a question of time. This assumption is confirmed by increasing number of publications concerning the problem of mechanical characteristics for such materials.
This paper presents the results of preliminary research on the pre-stressing of the FRP composite structures, while the term pre-stress indicates initial tensile stress applied to the fibres embedded in selected layers of the composite material. Manufacturing process and shape forming possibilities as well as short-term static and dynamic behaviour of the pre-stressed composites are discussed. Presented results are achieved by the use of the experimental methods (three-point bending tests and Experimental Modal Analysis) and experimentally verified Finite Element Method model of pre-stressed structure.

The paper introduces the concept of eccentrical prestressing of fiber reinforced polymer materials in order to improve their mechanical properties and global mechanical behaviour. Prestressing is here understood as application of the initial tensile stress to the fibres embedded in selected external layers of the composite material. The objective of prestressing is to increase stiffness of the composite and to obtain desired response to applied external loading. The main objective of this research work is to develop a comprehensive approach to analysis of prestressed composites, which includes analytical and numerical modelling of the static behaviour, optimal composite design, as well as, simulation of dynamic response. Initially, we derive simple and effective analytical model of prestressed composite based on models of individual prestressed plies and their homogenization. The analytical model is used to reveal beneficial influence of prestress on strain and stress distribution in particular plies and resulting increase of the composite stiffness. Further, three options for the FEM-based numerical modelling of prestressed composites are proposed and thoroughly compared with each other. Developed analytical and numerical models are used to propose methods of prestressed composite design in which optimization of prestressing forces is used to minimize required composite thickness or fiber volume fraction. Eventually, FEM simulations are applied to assess the influence of prestress force magnitude on natural frequencies and modal shapes of eccentrically prestressed composite beams of various fibre volume fraction. The final part of the paper summarizes the potential advantages of the prestressed composites and unveils their superiority in comparison to the standard ones. Potential applications of prestressed composite materials in civil engineering and aerospace industry are briefly discussed. In addition, challenges related to design and manufacturing of structures made of prestressed composite materials are presented.