Micromechanical Measurements of Foams, Adhesives and Composites

摘要

This was an AFOSR DURIP 99 Instrumentation Grant. The grant was used to purchase two major pieces of equipment and to design and fabricate two others. The equipment are being used to perform micromechanical testing and image processing in fiber polymeric foams and honeycomb adhesives and composites. The first piece of equipment purchased is an M-5 Atomic Force Microscope from ThermoMicrosopes. The facility is being used for general surface scanning and for custom material testing. An Optronics digital camera and a digital video disk recorder were purchased for general monitoring of material testing. A 15 ft drop weight testing facility along with related accessories was designed, fabricated and tested during the period of the grant. The facility is being used to establish the dynamic energy absorption capacity of honeycombs and other light weight materials. A Mixed-Mode Delaminati Tester was designed and fabricated for examining interfacial and near interfacial crack growth in composites. The facilities have become part of the laboratory of the Center for Mechanics of Solids Structures & Materials of the University of Texas.