Numerical Investigation On Effect of Geometric Material and load Parameters on strength of composite Panels with cutouts

Abstract

ABSTRACT newlineCompositepanelsarewidelyusedasstructuralmembersduetotheirhighstrengthtoweight ratio. Many applications of such materials can be seen in marine, sports, architecture, automobile, aerospace and space domains, In order to reduce further weight, cutouts or notchesareintroducedinthesemembers. Thesecutoutsalsoserveasman-holesforservice purpose,aswellasforpassingelectricorfuellines. Anaircraftwingribisatypicalexample ofsuchacompositepanel. Evenwhilecompositeswithholesorcutoutsprovidegreatsavinginweightcomparedto metallicstructures,thepresenceofholesitselfleadstostrengthreduction. Thereductionin strengthisduetoconcentrationofstressaroundthevicinityoftheholewhilethestructureis underload. So,thestrengthreductionduetoholesorcutoutsisamajorfactorfordesigners while designing structures. Compared to isotropic materials like metals, the prediction of failure for composites with holes is seen to be diand#64259;cult. Structures can also have multiple holesforutilitypurposesaswellasforenhancedweightreduction. Proximityofsuchholes are also seen to intensify the stress concentration eand#64256;ects in structural panels under loading. This is explained in literature by a quothole interaction eand#64256;ectquot in which the stress and#64257;eld around one hole interacts with that of a nearby hole due to which stresses in the areas between the holesincreases. Diand#64256;erent sized and shaped holes/cutouts are used in composites structural members, which may serve for diand#64256;erent purposes, such as material removal for lightening, hole for rivets,bolts,orpins,andmanholeusedforinspectionandrepairpurpose. Thesecutouts,in turn, introduce stress concentration near the cutout in such members leading to weakening ofthestructure. Thestressesdevelopednearthecutoutitselfdependsonmanyfactorssuch as shape of the cutout, size of the cutout, proximity of another hole, edge interaction etc. For and#64257;ber composites, the stress concentration eand#64256;ect also depends on other factors like and#64257;ber orientation,and#64257;bermaterial,matrixmaterialetc. Inshort,thestrengthofcompositewithhole mainlydependsonthreemajorparame