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Article
Understanding Effectiveness of Stitching in Suppression of Impact Damage: An Empirical Delamination Reduction Trend for Stitched Composites
Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing
  • Kwek Tze Tan, University of Akron Main Campus
  • N. Watanabe
  • Y. Iwahori
  • T. Ishikawa
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-1-2012
Abstract

In this paper, a novel empirical trend has been identified to understand the delamination reduction in stitched composites subjected to impact loading. This empirical-based Delamination Reduction Trend (DRT) is developed based on an extensive series of low-velocity impact tests using specimens of different laminate thicknesses, stitch densities and stitch thread linear (mass) densities, subjected over a range of impact energy levels. The DRT simply relates two parameters: normalized delamination area (DelamNorm) and stitch fiber volume fraction (Vft), to characterize the effectiveness of stitching in impact damage suppression. DRT evidently shows a bi-linear behavior: first, an initial linearly decreasing relationship of DelamNorm with Vft; and second, a plateau which indicates maximum delamination area reduction limit of 40% by stitching. Experimentally observed mechanisms are presented and discussed with the aim to justify and explain the bi-linear behavior of DRT. The DRT is further validated with numerous published literature results and has demonstrated excellent agreement.

Citation Information
Kwek Tze Tan, N. Watanabe, Y. Iwahori and T. Ishikawa. "Understanding Effectiveness of Stitching in Suppression of Impact Damage: An Empirical Delamination Reduction Trend for Stitched Composites" Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing Vol. 43 Iss. 6 (2012) p. 823 - 832
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/kwek_tze_tan/7/