PROFILE

 

 

Name            : Sudheer M.

Designation : Lecturer

Qualification: M.Tech (CIM)

 

M.Tech Project Work (2005):

 

“Evaluation of Apparent Elastic Moduli for Mulite/Alumina Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs) along Non-principal Material Directions Using Finite Element Method”

 

Synopsis:

 

Composite materials are gradually gaining increasing importance as structural materials in the present day engineering design and development activity due to their attractive mechanical and thermal properties such as high strength-to-weight ratio, high stiffness-to-weight ratio, thermal shock resistance, corrosion resistance, etc.  Aircrafts and spacecrafts are typical weight-sensitive structures in which composite materials are cost-effective and finding extensive applications.

Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs) are an important class of composites, which provide as alternate substitutes for conventional engineering materials when specific mechanical properties necessary for high ambient temperature applications are desirable. Apart from possessing high strength to weight ratio and high stiffness to weight ratio, they offer elevated temperature stability, low thermal conductivity etc.

The mechanical and thermal properties of composites along material principal directions are generally available in literature or from the manufacturer. However, the properties along non-principal material directions, which are invariably required in stress calculations during design validation process, will not be readily available. One has to use closed form equations, which give approximate values of these engineering constants.

 

The major objectives of the present research work are:

1.     To carry out a comprehensive literature survey on composite materials, in particular the ceramic matrix composites and their importance as structural materials in the present engineering context;

2.     To provide an over view of different mechanical & thermal properties associated with composite materials and a summary of the analytical methods used for the computation of apparent elastic moduli; and

3.     To develop a methodology for evaluating the engineering constants along non-principal material directions using Finite Element techniques.

 

The methodology developed is extended to the computation of apparent elastic constants for Mulite/Alumina Ceramic Matrix Composite system. The effect of varying volume fraction and fiber orientation on the engineering constants will be taken into consideration. The front-end commercial software ANSYS is adopted in the present study. The FEM formulation is carried out using plane stress modeling approach with PLANE42 element. The results obtained are compared with the analytically calculated values.

Important Results of the Investigation:

 

From the evaluation of Apparent Elastic Moduli (Ex, Ey, νxy, νyx and Gxy), it is observed that largest and smallest material properties occurred in the Non-Principal material directions. Hence with a new composite material, its moduli as a function of fiber angle θ should be examined to truly understand its character.

 

Awards/Achievements:

 

          2nd Rank under Visvesvaraya Technological University

 

Contact Details:

 

Address: Lecturer,    Department of Mechanical Engineering, St. Joseph Engineering College

                   Mangalore 575 028, Karnataka State, India

 

Mobile: 9845098953; Email ID: msudheerm2002@yahoo.co.in

 

 

 

 

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