Papa Birame Gning

Presented paper focuses on intermediate outcomes of the bilateral project between the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, STU in Bratislava, Slovakia and the Institute of Automotive and Transport Engineering, UBFC in Nevers, France. Thus, mechanical properties and behaviour of glass fibre reinforced polymer composite foam cored sandwich panels joints were researched to estimate the best possible joint technology. Three-point bending and four-point bending were used to evaluate flexure strength and static force-flexure curve. Based on such testing, one specific joint composition was chosen to be broadly investigated. Finally, chosen type of joint panels was tested under four-point cyclic loading to obtain its fatigue properties.

Experimental and numerical methods to identify the linear viscoelastic properties of flax fibre reinforced epoxy (FFRE) composite are presented in this study. The method relies on the evolution of storage modulus and loss factor as observed through the frequency response. Free-free symmetrically guided beams were excited on the dynamic range of 10 Hz to 4 kHz with a swept sine excitation focused around their first modes. A fractional derivative Zener model has been identified to predict the complex moduli. A modified ply constitutive law has been then implemented in a classical laminates theory calculation (CLT) routine.

The exposition of thermoplastic composites reinforced with natural fibers to moisture and heat is likely to lower their mechanical properties and restrain their use in the design of parts. The present work is focussed on investigating the effects of hygrothermal aging on the mechanical behaviour of injected polypropylene reinforced with short hemp fibers. Moreover, the kinetic of isothermal moisture absorption has been studied for four immersion temperatures. The experimental results show that the time taken to reach saturation decreases significantly with increase in immersion temperature. These tests also reveal that moisture absorption in this type of materials does not follow Fick's law. Thus, a new model is proposed to predict this behaviour by the use of a variable coefficient of diffusion. This model is implemented using both analytical and finite element analysis (FEA) approaches. The results obtained with this new model show a very good correlation between experimental, analytical, and FEA absorption curves. POLYM. COMPOS., 37:2342–2352, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers