Analysis of composite T-joint designs for enhanced resistance to hydrodynamic ram. (July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: May, Michael; Ganzenmüller, Georg; Wolfrum, Johannes; Heimbs, Sebastian
• Is Part Of: Composite structures. Volume 125(2015)
• Page Start: 188
• Page End: 194
• Publication Date: 2015-07
• Subjects: Composite joints -- Experimental testing -- High rate -- Through-thickness reinforcement -- Hydrodynamic ram; Composite construction -- Periodicals; Composites -- Périodiques; 624.18
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2015.02.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0263-8223

Abstract

Abstract: This study is concerned with the feasibility of different T-joint designs for application in aircraft composite fuel tanks which may be subjected to hydrodynamic ram loading. In a first step, the response of a hybrid metallic/composite T-joint is compared against a state-of-the-art composite T-joint. In a second step, two different resin systems are compared using a third T-joint design – one state-of-the-art aerospace resin and one novel, toughened system. Experimental work is done under both, quasi-static and under high-rate loading conditions. The hybrid metallic/composite T-joint showed superior post-failure behavior compared to the state-of-the-art composite T-joint. The use of the toughened resin system results in a significant increase of joint strength. The post-failure behavior is however not affected by the resin system.