CMS WORKBOOK Complete Book
CMS WORKBOOK Complete Book
WORKBOOK
FOR
4. Give four examples of naturally found composites. What are the constituents of
these natural composites?
10. Give the units for the following quantities: (i) stress (ii) Young’s modulus (iii)
Poisson’s ratio (iv) coefficient of thermal expansion (v) density.
17. Enumerate the six primary material selection parameters that are used in
evaluating the use of a particular material.
29. What are the matrix factors that contribute to the mechanical performance of
composites?
30. Other than fiber and the matrix, what other factors influence the mechanical
performance of a composite?
35. List the typical mechanical properties of some polymer matrix composites.
Compare these properties with metals.
40. What is the major advantage of boron fibers over carbon fibers?
43. Give the maximum temperatures up to which polymers, metals and ceramics can
be used as matrix materials.
44. State the possible combination of matrices and reinforcements used in metal
matrix composites.
45. List the various resin systems used in advanced polymer composites.
61. Give example of a (i) homogeneous body that is not isotropic and (ii) non-
homogeneous body that is isotropic.
72. Why do fibers have better mechanical properties than the bulk material?
76. What are the reduced stiffness and the compliance matrix for an isotropic
lamina?
83. List the failure theories used in the analysis of angle lamina.
89. All natural fibers are organic and all synthetic fibers inorganic. TRUE OR
FALSE.
90. Natural fibers such as hemp, jute and cotton consist of cellulose fibers in an
amorphous matrix of cellulose and hemicelluloses. TRUE OR FALSE.
91. All interfaces between the matrix and the reinforcement are stable and will never
change during service even at high temperatures. TRUE OR FALSE.
92. Glass fibers are crystalline and the crystal size is about 20 m . TRUE OR
FALSE.
93. Usually the matrix has a lower Young’s modulus than the reinforcement. TRUE
OR FALSE.
94. The most widely used composites re metal matrix composites. TRUE OR
FALSE.
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2
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95. The performance indicator is applicable when considering the possibility of
bucking under the action of a compressive force. TRUE OR FALSE.
96. A hybrid has a mixed metal and ceramic matrix reinforced with polymer fibers.
TRUE OR FALSE.
97. The main objective in reinforcing a metal is to lower the Young’s modulus.
TRUE OR FALSE.
99. The properties of a composite are essentially isotropic when the reinforcement is
randomly oriented, equi-axed particles. TRUE OR FALSE.
100. A plate subjected to a unidirectional direct stress experiences strain only in the
direction of the stress. TRUE OR FALSE.
102. Principal stresses are the maximum and minimum shear stresses at a point in a
body. TRUE OR FALSE.
103. For a transversely isotropic material, the elastic properties in the longitudinal
direction are the same as those transverse to the fibers. TRUE OR FALSE.
104. The principal material axes are at 45 degrees to the fiber direction. TRUE OR
FALSE.
106. The major and minor Poisson’s ratios are independent elastic properties. TRUE
OR FALSE.
107. The shear modulus of a unidirectional lamina can be determined from the
longitudinal modulus and the major Poisson’s ratio. TRUE OR FALSE.
108. According to the maximum stress criterion lamina failure is determined by the
absolute maximum component of stress in the lamina. TRUE OR FALSE.
109. The maximum stress and maximum strain criteria will predict the same failure
loads. TRUE OR FALSE.
110. A hybrid stress criterion is used for composites containing more than none fiber
type (i.e., a hybrid composite). TRUE OR FALSE.
111. An interactive stress criterion cannot directly predict the mode of failure. TRUE
OR FALSE.
112. An interactive criterion will always predict failure stresses different to those
predicted by the maximum stress criterion. TRUE OR FALSE.
113. When predicting the final failure of a laminate, it is necessary to know the failure
mode of individual plies. TRUE OR FALSE.
For each of the statements in the following questions, one or more of the
completions given are correct. Mark the correct completions.
127. Each of the sentences in the following questions consists of an assertion followed
by a reason. Answer:
a. If both assertion and reason are true statements and the reason is a correct
explanation of the assertion.
b. If both assertion and reason are true statements but the reason is not a correct
explanation of the assertion
c. If the assertion is true but the reason is a false statement.
d. If the assertion is false but the reason is a true statement.
e. If both the assertion and reason are false statements.
128. The properties of a composite are influenced by the properties of the constituents
because the properties of the composite are always given by the law of mixtures.
129. The properties of a continuous fiber composite are anisotropic because the
arrangement of the fibers is often unidirectional.
130. Ceramic matrix composites have a lower toughness than monolithic ceramics
because the reinforcement is usually fibers of low stiffness.
131. Polymer matrix composites have high values for the specific modulus because
polymers are high strength materials.
132. Metal matrix composites usually retain their strength to higher temperatures
than the matrix alloy because the reinforcement is normally a ceramic which has
good mechanical properties at elevated temperatures.
134. The loads acting on a component are subdivided into forces are couples because
forces can be subdivided into tension and compression.
135. In a plate loaded in its plane, the orthogonal direct strains are determined by
both direct stresses because the shear strain is determined by the shear stress.
136. An isotropic material always behaves in a linear elastic fashion because shear
modulus is related to Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio.
137. A plate loaded by couples will exhibit anticlastic curvature because the direct
stresses vary linearly through the thickness.
138. In a pressurized cylinder, the axial and hoop stresses have the same magnitude
because axial strain is greater than the circumferential strain.
139. For a unidirectional lamina the major Poisson’s ratio is always larger than the
minor Poisson’s ratio because the transverse modulus is always smaller than the
longitudinal modulus.
140. For a unidirectional lamina, the S11 terms of the compliance matrix is always
greater than the S 22 because the stiffness term Q11 is always greater than Q22 .
141. For a unidirectional lamina, the terms Q13 and Q23 of the stiffness matrix are
always zero because the shear modulus is much smaller than the longitudinal
modulus.
143. A lamina is deemed to have failed when the fiber fractures because the fibers
carry the highest stresses.
144. When predicting the failure of an off-axis lamina, it is necessary to calculate the
stresses in the principal direction because these stresses are always greater than
the applied stresses.
145. The maximum stress criterion will always predict failure in tension because the
longitudinal tensile strength of a unidirectional ply is greater than the
corresponding compressive strength.
146. The Tsai-Hill criterion gives a more accurate prediction for off-axis loading
because it does not predict the mode of failure.
147. Initial failure of a cross-ply laminate can only be predicted by the Tsai-Hill
criterion because it corresponds to transverse ply cracking.
155. What is the specific modulus of a polymer fiber with a density of 1.44 g / cc and
an elastic modulus of 700 MPa?
156. For a composite, E f = 100 GPa and Em = 10 GPa. Calculate the percentage
increase in load carrying capacity of a uni-axial bar when the fiber content is
increased from 70% to 80%.
157. Write the expression to determine the longitudinal modulus of the composites
using law of mixtures.
161. Calculate the weight fraction and volume fraction for a composite laminate
containing 30% weight of E-glass fibers in a polyester resin. Assume f 2.54
g/ml and m 1.1 g/ml.
172. The fiber modulus has a stronger influence on longitudinal modulus than it does
on transverse modulus. TRUE OR FALSE.
174. Brittle fibers have high values of the Weibull modulus, m. TRUE OR FALSE.
For each of the statements in the following questions, one or more of the
completions given are correct. Mark the correct competitions.
175. The longitudinal modulus of a unidirectional composite
a. is larger than the fiber modulus
b. is directly proportional to fiber volume fraction
c. is calculated assuming the fibers to have identical strength
d. is calculated assuming the failure strain of the fibers to be greater than
that of the matrix
e. is calculated assuming that stress is proportional to strain.
176. Transverse properties are more difficult to predict than longitudinal properties
because
a. fibers are not uniformly packed
b. they are dependent on matrix properties
c. there is a lack of data on appropriate fiber properties
d. the strain is constant
e. the coefficient of expansion is different for the fiber and matrix.
177. Each of the sentences in the following questions consists of an assertion followed
by a reason. Answer:
a. If both assertion and reason are true statements and the reason is a correct
explanation of the assertion.
b. If both assertion and reason are true statements but the reason is not a correct
explanation of the assertion
c. If the assertion is true but the reason is a false statement.
d. If the assertion is false but the reason is a true statement.
e. If both the assertion and reason are false statements.
178. When calculating the longitudinal modulus of unidirectional FRP, the matrix
can be neglected because the fiber modulus is much greater than the matrix
modulus.
179. Having the fiber modulus will halve the composite’s transverse modulus because
transverse modulus is proportional to fiber modulus.
181. For practical FRPs, the composite’s longitudinal tensile stress is directly
proportional to fiber stress because the fiber modulus is much greater than the
matrix modulus.
182. The longitudinal and transverse expansion coefficients of CFRP are the same
because the fiber expansion coefficient is larger than that of the matrix.
185. How does the bending analysis of a composite laminate vary from that of metals?
186. How does the buckling analysis of a composite laminate vary from that of
metals?
200. List the important failure criteria used for composite laminates.
201. What is yield criterion? Name the yield criteria used for the failure analysis of
composite materials.
203. The major Poisson’s ratio 12 for an orthotropic lamina is said to be matrix
dependent property. TRUE OR FALSE. Justify.
214. Do global stresses vary linearly through the thickness of a laminate? Justify.
216. Why are failure theories developed for metals not applicable to composites?
218. The D13 and D23 terms are zero for a laminate with a balanced symmetric lay-
up. TRUE OR FALSE.
219. Each of the sentences in the following questions consists of an assertion followed
by a reason. Answer:
a. If both assertion and reason are true statements and the reason is a correct
explanation of the assertion.
b. If both assertion and reason are true statements but the reason is not a correct
explanation of the assertion
c. If the assertion is true but the reason is a false statement.
d. If the assertion is false but the reason is a true statement.
e. If both the assertion and reason are false statements.
220. Laminates with the same lay-up but different sequences have the same A matrix
because the A matrix depends only on ply thickness.
222. Classical laminate theory cannot predict failure of finite width laminates because
it ignores the existence of through-thickness stresses.
229. Enumerate the typical cure cycle used during autoclave process.
242. Can we use filament would PMC cylinders to replace steel cylinders for natural
gas transportation.
243. What are the residual stresses developed during fabrication of composites?
247. Polyethylene has the lowest density of any readily available synthetic fiber.
TRUE OR FALSE.
248. Boron fibers are produced by vapour deposition from boron trichloride on to a
heated substrate. TRUE OR FALSE.
252. Why is magnesium not commonly used as the matrix of a metal matrix
composite?
255. What is the main disadvantage of using woven fibers rather than nonwoven
fibers as a reinforcement in a composite material?
257. What is the main disadvantage of the plasma spray method of metal-matrix
composite fabrication?
258. Why is the stabilization step used in the fabrication of a carbon fiber from a
pitch fiber?
260. What is the main advantage of having fillers of two different particle sizes in the
same composite material?
For each of the statements in the following questions, one or more of the
completions given are correct. Mark the correct completions.
263. Aramid
a. is a form of collagen
b. may be viewed as nylon with extra benzene rings
c. fibers are stretched and drawn to align the structure
d. fibers maintain their properties to temperatures in excess of 1000o
e. fibers are produced by chemical vapour deposition from nylon
264. Glass fibers
a. are made from silica glass
b. have the highest specific modulus of any fibers
c. are produced by vapour deposition
d. have a short-range network structure
e. may be chopped to make a chopped strand mat.
265. Alumina fibers
a. are produced from an organic precursor
b. are produced via a slurry
c. are produced by melt spinning
d. cannot be produced from debased alumina
e. have extremely high values for the specific strength
274. Are external stiffeners used in sandwich construction? Justify your answer.
275. Why cannot carbon fiber face sheet be used with aluminium honeycomb core?
278. Mention any two critical concepts used for sandwich construction.
280. Write the flexural rigidity for a sandwich beam with different facing thicknesses.
284. List the important mechanical properties needed for the core material.
285. List the important mechanical properties needed for the face sheet material.
290. Give three examples of core material used in sandwich construction for
aerospace applications.
291. Give three examples of facing material used in sandwich construction for
aerospace applications.