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Organic Matrix Composites and Multifunctional Materials

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Advanced Composites".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 March 2023) | Viewed by 15238

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Laboratory of Tribology and Dynamics of Systems (LTDS), Ecole Centrale de Lyon, 69134 Ecully, CEDEX, France
Interests: durability of organic matrix composites; smart composites; bonding; viscoelastic behaviour
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Thanks to their excellent properties, organic matrix composites are attracting considerable attention across a number of industries such as the aeronautic, automotive, marine, sport, civil engineering, and electricity fields. These materials are light and non-corrodible, and their properties can be almost "tailor-made" due to the wide variety of reinforcements, most often fibrous (glass, carbon, and ligno-cellulosic) but also not non-fibrous (hollow microspheres) and matrices (thermosetting or thermoplastic), as well as many manufacturing processes.

Composite materials are constantly evolving.

Until now, thermosetting matrices have been the most commonly used matrices for structural parts. The use of thermoplastics even for large parts seems to be emerging due to their toughness and recyclability (compared to thermosets). Natural fibre reinforcements show interesting characteristics for secondary parts: they are light, environmentally friendly, relatively cheap to produce, renewable, and with enough high stiffness and strength. Moreover, in order to improve out-of-plane through-thickness properties when they are needed, 3D composites were developed.

In recent years, the introduction of multifunctional composite material systems has made it possible to further improve primary functions such as the stiffness associated with lightness by combining thermoforming and injection manufacturing processes (overmoulded laminates) or impact behaviour by using composites reinforced with different types of fibres, with some chosen for their rigidity and others for their damping capacity (carbon and flax). Moreover, thanks to their manufacturing process, it is relatively easy to embed sensors and actuators in composite materials at a mesoscopic scale, to produce multifunctions and primary functions to produce self-control or self- healing, shape change, and energy harvesting (known as smart composites).

This Special Issue focuses on the development of new composites, especially multifunctional composites and the study of their properties (included long time behavior).

Topics of interest include but are not limited to the following:

  • New components (matrices, reinforcements) and manufacturing;
  • Eco-friendly composite materials (matrix, reinforcements);
  • Structural health monitoring (sensors and actuators);
  • Self-healing materials and damage control;
  • Shape control, energy harvesting;
  • Meta composites.

Dr. Michelle Salvia
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • composite
  • high-performance composite
  • durability
  • SHM
  • self-healing
  • eco-friendly composite
  • manufacturing

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 5264 KiB  
Article
Lead Zirconate Titanate Transducers Embedded in Composite Laminates: The Influence of the Integration Method on Ultrasound Transduction
by Nina Kergosien, Ludovic Gavérina, Guillemette Ribay, Florence Saffar, Pierre Beauchêne, Olivier Mesnil and Olivier Bareille
Materials 2023, 16(8), 3057; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16083057 - 12 Apr 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1285
Abstract
In the context of an embedded structural health monitoring (SHM) system, two methods of transducer integration into the core of a laminate carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) are tested: cut-out and between two plies. This study focuses on the effect of integration methods on [...] Read more.
In the context of an embedded structural health monitoring (SHM) system, two methods of transducer integration into the core of a laminate carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) are tested: cut-out and between two plies. This study focuses on the effect of integration methods on Lamb wave generation. For this purpose, plates with an embedded lead zirconate titanate (PZT) transducer are cured in an autoclave. The embedded PZT insulation, integrity, and ability to generate Lamb waves are checked with electromechanical impedance, X-rays, and laser Doppler vibrometry (LDV) measurements. Lamb wave dispersion curves are computed by LDV using two-dimensional fast Fourier transform (Bi-FFT) to study the quasi-antisymmetric mode (qA0) excitability in generation with the embedded PZT in the frequency range of 30 to 200 kHz. The embedded PZT is able to generate Lamb waves, which validate the integration procedure. The first minimum frequency of the embedded PZT shifts to lower frequencies and its amplitude is reduced compared to a surface-mounted PZT. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic Matrix Composites and Multifunctional Materials)
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14 pages, 7286 KiB  
Article
Tribological Behaviour of Enamel Coatings Created by a Prototype Device for Local Repair of Inorganic Surfaces
by Miroslav Müller, Monika Hromasová, Petr Valášek, Iva Nováková, Jaromír Moravec and Milan Jelínek
Materials 2023, 16(3), 1224; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16031224 - 31 Jan 2023
Viewed by 973
Abstract
The ability of materials to withstand environmental influences is a frequent necessity in many industries. Special requirements are imposed by such industries where surfaces are affected by acidity during the processing or storage of products. In such cases, when the basic surface is [...] Read more.
The ability of materials to withstand environmental influences is a frequent necessity in many industries. Special requirements are imposed by such industries where surfaces are affected by acidity during the processing or storage of products. In such cases, when the basic surface is exposed to chemical influences, it is possible to use enamel coatings, which, with their properties, guarantee the protection of the surface and achieve the required service life of the material. This article deals mainly with the interaction between the base material and the enamel and its resistance to wear between the original and the renovated surface caused by local heating. The article presents a methodical procedure for the preparation of test specimens with an enamel layer prepared by AWJ cutting, eliminating its damage. There are minimal differences in the microstructure between the original and the renovated surface due to the production technique. The renovated enamel surface had more bubbles of a larger size than the original surface. Good adhesion between the base metal material (substrate) and the ground coat was demonstrated. The tested surfaces demonstrated high resistance to intensive abrasion conditions with low linear wear increments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic Matrix Composites and Multifunctional Materials)
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23 pages, 7989 KiB  
Article
Characterization of the Thermal Behavior of a Complex Composite (Clutch Facing) Combining Digital Image Stereo Correlation and Numerical Approach
by Camille Flament, Bruno Berthel, Michelle Salvia, Gérard Grosland and Isabelle Alix
Materials 2022, 15(7), 2582; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15072582 - 31 Mar 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1381
Abstract
Car clutch facings are complex fiber-reinforced composites. The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the composite is one of the main thermal properties, which affects dry clutch engagement process due to heat associated with friction. In the case of clutch facing, which only [...] Read more.
Car clutch facings are complex fiber-reinforced composites. The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the composite is one of the main thermal properties, which affects dry clutch engagement process due to heat associated with friction. In the case of clutch facing, which only exists in its final form as a non-planar annular disc, it is difficult to define an elementary representative volume. The objective of this work was to develop a method for identifying the CTE distributions on the entire part. A device allowing measuring the strain fields by digital image correlation (DIC) under homogeneous thermal loading (up to 300 °C) was developed. The experimental results highlight the heterogeneity and the orthotropic nature of the material behavior and the influence of the angle between the fibers on the CTE. To take into account that the measured strain fields are related to the CTE, but also to the shape of the part, different approaches to identify the CTE were considered: direct measurements, classical laminate theory (CLT) and finite element method updating (FEMU). Only the FEMU allows an accurate identification of the CTE distributions. Nevertheless, the CLT respects the orders of magnitude and remains a useful tool for the design of clutches. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic Matrix Composites and Multifunctional Materials)
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15 pages, 4028 KiB  
Article
Increasing Impact Strength of a Short Glass Fiber Compression Molded BMC by Shortening Fibers without Change in Equipment
by Michael C. Faudree, Yoshitake Nishi and Michelle Salvia
Materials 2022, 15(3), 1145; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15031145 - 01 Feb 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1671
Abstract
Bird strike, volcanic rock, hailstones, micrometeoroids, or space debris can cause damage to aircraft and space vehicles, therefore their composite materials must have high impact resistance to maximize safety. In a 55% wt. CaCO3 compression molded short glass fiber polyester GFRP-BMC (bulk [...] Read more.
Bird strike, volcanic rock, hailstones, micrometeoroids, or space debris can cause damage to aircraft and space vehicles, therefore their composite materials must have high impact resistance to maximize safety. In a 55% wt. CaCO3 compression molded short glass fiber polyester GFRP-BMC (bulk molded compound), shortening the nominal 6.4 mm fiber length formulation, by 30 min extended mixing, to 0.44 mm was found to increase Charpy impact values, auc, without a change in the compression molding equipment. Specimens were cut from square panels in a spiral configuration in conformity with ASTM D 6110-02 for orthotropic panels, the flow direction approximately radially outward from the charge. At a median-fracture probability of Pf = 0.50, extended mixing improved auc by 29%, from 7.43 to 9.59 kJm−2, and for each solidification texture angle, namely, 0 to 90 (random), 71, 45 and 18 deg, the auc increased by 25% (6.26 to 7.86 kJm−2), 18% (9.36 to 11.07 kJm−2), 35% (7.68 to 10.37 kJm−2), and 20% (6.96 to 8.36 kJm−2), respectively. This strengthening can be explained by an increased number of thermal compressive stress sites between the glass fiber and matrix due to a difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) during cool-down, and shrinkage, with an increased number of spaces between fibers, |Sf| from 217 to approximately 2950 per mm3, enhancing impact energy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic Matrix Composites and Multifunctional Materials)
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15 pages, 6054 KiB  
Article
Transverse Cracking Induced Acoustic Emission in Carbon Fiber-Epoxy Matrix Composite Laminates
by Zeina Hamam, Nathalie Godin, Pascal Reynaud, Claudio Fusco, Nicolas Carrère and Aurélien Doitrand
Materials 2022, 15(1), 394; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15010394 - 05 Jan 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2010
Abstract
Transverse cracking induced acoustic emission in carbon fiber/epoxy matrix composite laminates is studied both experimentally and numerically. The influence of the type of sensor, specimen thickness and ply stacking sequence is investigated. The frequency content corresponding to the same damage mechanism differs significantly [...] Read more.
Transverse cracking induced acoustic emission in carbon fiber/epoxy matrix composite laminates is studied both experimentally and numerically. The influence of the type of sensor, specimen thickness and ply stacking sequence is investigated. The frequency content corresponding to the same damage mechanism differs significantly depending on the sensor and the stacking sequence. However, the frequency centroid does not wholly depend on the ply thickness except for the inner ply crack and a sensor located close enough to the crack. Outer ply cracking exhibits signals with a low-frequency content, not depending much on the ply thickness, contrary to inner ply cracking, for which the frequency content is higher and more dependent on the ply thickness. Frequency peaks and frequency centroids obtained experimentally are well captured by numerical simulations of the transverse cracking induced acoustic emission for different ply thicknesses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic Matrix Composites and Multifunctional Materials)
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20 pages, 5675 KiB  
Article
Development of an Innovative Non-Destructive and Field-Oriented Method to Quantify the Bond Quality of Composite Strengthening Systems on Concrete Structures
by Astrid Billon-Filiot, Frédéric Taillade, Marc Quiertant, Jean-Marie Hénault, Jean-Claude Renaud, Romain Maurin and Karim Benzarti
Materials 2020, 13(23), 5421; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13235421 - 28 Nov 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2357
Abstract
Over the last 30 years, structural reinforcement and retrofitting with externally bonded composite materials have proven to be efficient and cost-effective solutions to increase both the safety and the lifespan of civil engineering structures, including nuclear power plants. The effectiveness of the strengthening [...] Read more.
Over the last 30 years, structural reinforcement and retrofitting with externally bonded composite materials have proven to be efficient and cost-effective solutions to increase both the safety and the lifespan of civil engineering structures, including nuclear power plants. The effectiveness of the strengthening system highly depends on the level of adhesion between the fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite material and the concrete surface. Therefore, on-site evaluation of the bond quality is critical to assess the performance and predict the durability of the system in place. The direct tension pull-off test is most commonly used to quantify the adhesion level, but this standardized method has many drawbacks. In the present study, it is proposed to evaluate the bond properties by using a nondestructive test (NDT) derived from the standard pull-off test. This innovative test enables the measurement of an interfacial “stiffness” which may be used as a bond quality criterion. This paper gives an insight into the performance of the proposed NDT method, when applied in laboratory conditions to concrete slabs reinforced with bonded pultruded carbon FRP plates (CFRP). Three different epoxy adhesive systems with a broad range of Young’s moduli were used for the specimens’ preparation, in order to vary the stiffness of the concrete/CFRP interface. The purpose was to simulate different levels of interfacial adhesion that could be observed for a single adhesive system. It was shown that the test method was able to detect differences in the interface stiffness beyond experimental uncertainties, and it should therefore enable the detection of differences in the bond quality for a given adhesive system as well. The sensitivity of the NDT was then discussed, and its detection capabilities were predicted for standard field conditions. In the last part, strain measurements were collected during the NDT, thanks to distributed optical fiber sensors (DOFS) embedded in the adhesive joints of the strengthened specimens. An analysis of the strain profiles was found to provide complementary information on the quality of the adhesive bond. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic Matrix Composites and Multifunctional Materials)
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37 pages, 8010 KiB  
Article
Towards the Prediction of Sandwich Composites Durability in Severe Condition of Temperature: A New Numerical Model Describing the Influence of Material Water Content during a Fire Scenario
by Juan Pablo Márquez Costa, Vincent Legrand, Sylvain Fréour and Frédéric Jacquemin
Materials 2020, 13(23), 5420; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13235420 - 28 Nov 2020
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1527
Abstract
An advanced fire thermal model was developed to predict the evolution of the temperature and decomposition gradient across a sandwich composite structure when exposed to high temperatures (fire). This model allows the prediction of a large numbers of parameters, such as thermal expansion, [...] Read more.
An advanced fire thermal model was developed to predict the evolution of the temperature and decomposition gradient across a sandwich composite structure when exposed to high temperatures (fire). This model allows the prediction of a large numbers of parameters, such as thermal expansion, gas mass storage, porosity, permeability, density, and internal pressure. The highlight of this model is that we consider, in the sandwich constituents (core and skins), additional parameters, such as changing volume porosities, other coupled constituents (as infused resin in the balsa core), and what make the main originality of the present approach: moisture content (free and bounded water). The time dependence of many parameters, i.e., among others, the combustion advancing front and mechanical properties, can be predicted in a large number of material and fire scenarios. The proposed approach was validated in the case of sandwich panels, with glass/polyester or glass/vinyl ester skins and balsa core, exposed to high temperatures up to 750 °C. The influence of water on the thermal and mechanical responses is also highlighted. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic Matrix Composites and Multifunctional Materials)
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19 pages, 9226 KiB  
Article
Textile Composite Damage Analysis Taking into Account the Forming Process
by Marjorie Jauffret, Aldo Cocchi, Naim Naouar, Christian Hochard and Philippe Boisse
Materials 2020, 13(23), 5337; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13235337 - 25 Nov 2020
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1919
Abstract
The internal structure of composite materials is modified during manufacturing. The formation of woven prepregs or dry preforms changes the angle between the warp and weft yarns. The damage behaviour of the consolidated composite is modified by these changes of angle. It is [...] Read more.
The internal structure of composite materials is modified during manufacturing. The formation of woven prepregs or dry preforms changes the angle between the warp and weft yarns. The damage behaviour of the consolidated composite is modified by these changes of angle. It is important when designing a composite part to consider this modification when calculating the damage in order to achieve a correct dimensioning. In this paper, a damage calculation approach of the consolidated textile composite that takes into account the change in orientation of the yarns due to forming is proposed. The angles after forming are determined by a simulation of the draping based on a hypoelastic behaviour of the woven fabric reinforcement. Two orthogonal frames based on the warp and weft directions of the textile reinforcement are used for the objective integration of stresses. Damage analysis of the cured woven composite with non-perpendicular warp and weft directions is achieved by replacing it with two equivalent Unidirectional (UD) plies representing the yarn directions. For each ply, a model based on Continuum Damage Mechanics (CDM) describes the progressive damage. Two examples are presented, a bias extension specimen and the hemispherical forming coupon. In both cases, the angles between the warp and weft yarns are changed. It is shown that the damage calculated by taking into account these angle changes is greatly modified. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic Matrix Composites and Multifunctional Materials)
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