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Composite cylinder design software

process loading Window

Click on the thumbnail for larger image

The Process/Loading tab is divided into two sections, the first section primarily deals with the
process specifications, which is dominated primarily by temperature (any mechanical loading
incurred during processing can be superimposed in the loading conditions section).
The second section is where the user can apply a wide variety of loading conditions
upon the hybrid tube. Scroll below to find out how to use this tab.

Process Type: The user has the option of selecting between entire composite DT and single layer
D
T, which are described as follows:

  • Insitu Tow Placement: this means that each layer is put on separately and undergoes
    a separate DT from process temperature to mandrel temperature. This would
    simulate the filament winding, tow placement process. etc. The remaining
    (substrate) plies remain at the final temperature of T=T
    mandrel
  • Entire composite Cure: The entire composite undergoes the delta T at once.
    This would be similar to say uniform oven heating and/or a resin infusion process
    which is exposed to a uniform delta T.

Thermal Inputs: Three inputs are available here:

  • Process Temperature: (oF, max 800 min oF) This is the DT the composite
    cylinder alone experiences from this value to the final temperature
    (3rd input below), whether it by a DT in processing or a DT in an operating
    environment. It applies the DT to all plies at once.
  • Mandrel Temperature: This corresponds to the DT of the mandrel, and is
    separate from the DT of the composite.
  • Final Temperature: This is the lower bound of DT and is applied to both
    process temperature and mandrel temperature. It essentially represents the

There is an option/switch  to have the composite and mandrel then cool down to the
final temperature (associated with the final slider) . When on, the composite and mandrel
both cool to final T. When off, the composite will undergo a delta T to mandrel temperature
conditions. Please note that he lower temperature bounds on all three options has been
changed to -100F. 

Mechanical Inputs: Five inputs are available here:

  • Axial Force (in lb, no limit)
  • Torsion Load (in lb, no limit)
  • Constant tow/tape/filament Winding Tension (in lb, no limit). If the user
    wishes to apply a constant winding tension on all plies, click the constant
    winding tension button, and input a value. This value will overwrite any
    values inputted to the individual plies in the layer information section. 
    Please note a constant winding tension will NOT be applied to axial plies
    for obvious reasons.
  • Internal Pressure (in psi, no limit) if you find that you cannot change
    this input you are in profile mode and the pressure being applied is in the
    lower right hand corner. You can override this using the override profiler
    button in the top right. This is useful for progressive failure analysis when
    you might want to see which plies fail first and how they fail.
  • External Pressure (in psi, no limit)
  • Plastic Radius (in). The Plastic radius slider is used to manually change
    the autofrettage radius. Note that this option is disabled when the
    analysis type is set to profile.
    Also note that the slide color changes from blue to red when the value
    exceeds half the steel thickness, giving the user an idea of how close
    to the recommended plastic radius the current value is.

Override Profiler: As mentioned earlier, the user can override the pressure input
from the profiler if they wish to carry out a progressive failure analysis of the hybrid
structure. Be aware of this button when carrying out a profile analysis as the incorrect
pressure may be applied to the barrel if this option is on.

Open/Closed End conditions: This option  is used to toggle between having open
end or 'free' conditions or closed end conditions. 

Autofrettage On/Off: Select this option if you wish to turn off autofrettage on
or off.

Common Winding Tension: (in lb, no limit). If the user wishes to apply a constant
winding tension on all plies, click the constant winding tension button, and input a value.
This value will overwrite any values to the individual plies in the physical dimensions tab. 
Please note a constant winding tension will NOT be applied to axial plies for obvious reasons.

The text at the bottom of this tab will inform the user whether the program is in
single ply
or profile mode. Be sure that you are in the correct mode before completing
the analysis.

 
 

 

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Last updated on January 31, 2005