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Total Number of Pages : 02 M.Tech.

P2MDCC01

2nd Semester Regular / Back Examination 2017-18

MECHANICS OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS
BRANCH : MACHINE DESIGN, MECH. SYSTEM DESIGN, SYSTEM DESIGN
Time : 3 Hours
Max Marks : 100
Q.CODE : C638
Answer Question No.1 which is compulsory and any FOUR from the rest.
The figures in the right hand margin indicate marks.
Answer all parts of a question at a place.

Q1 Answer the following questions: Short answer type : (2 x 10)

a) State the functions of matrix and reinforcement in composite material.
b) Explain the difference between isotropic and anisotropic materials.
c) Write the number of independent elastic constants for three-dimensional
anisotropic, monoclinic, orthotropic, transversely isotropic, and isotropic
materials.
d) What is a hybrid composite? Give one example.
e) Calculate Fiber volume fraction vf and density of composite ρc for a
composite laminate containing 30 wt% of E-glass fibers in a polyester resin.
Assume density of fiber ρf=2.54 g/cm3 and density of Matrix ρm=1.1 g/cm3.
f) What is hybrid laminate? What are the types of hybrid laminate?
g) Name one thermoplastic and one thermosetting resin used as matrix material
for polymer composites.
h) Define Hooke’s law.
i) What are the types of laminates given below?
[±45 I ±45 ],[0 I 90 I 0 I 90]
j) Distinguish between symmetric cross ply laminate and symmetric angle ply
laminate.

Q2 a) What is a composite? How are composites classified? Briefly explain each (10)
type of composites with their merits and demerits.
b) A graphite/epoxy cuboid specimen with voids has dimensions of a × b × c and (10)
its mass is Mc. After it is put it into a mixture of sulphuric acid and hydrogen
peroxide, the remaining graphite fibers have a mass Mf. From independent
tests, the densities of graphite and epoxy are ρf and ρm, respectively. Find the
volume fraction of the voids in terms of a, b, c, Mf, Mc, ρf, and ρm.

Q3 a) Write a detailed account about the various types of fibers, which are generally (10)
used in composite materials.
b) Derive the expression for stiffness matrix and compliance matrix for an angle (10)
ply lamina using generalized Hooke’s law.

Q4 a) What is rule of mixtures? Derive the rule of mixtures for calculating the (10)
Young’s modulus of a fiber composite loaded parallel to the fibers?
b) If the longitudinal modulus of a glass reinforced plastic lamina is to be doubled (10)
by substituting some of the glass fibers with carbon fibers and the total fiber
volume remains unchanged at 0.5.Calculate the fraction of carbon fibers.
Given Ec=300GPa,Eg=70GPa,Em=5GPa.

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Q5 a) Write the short notes for the following: (10)

Symmetric laminate,
Antisymmetric laminate,
Symmetric cross-ply laminate and
Symmetric angle-ply laminate
b) Explain orthotropic, isotropic and transversely isotropic material with (10)
compliance and stiffness matrices.

Q6 a) Determine the stiffness matrices for a quasi-isotropic [-60 I 0 I + 60] laminate (10)
with the following material properties.
E1=140GPa , E2=10GPa, E6=6GPa,
The thickness of the lamina is 0.2mm.
b) Answer any two of the following questions: (10)
a. Discuss the variation of lamina properties with orientations.
b. Other than the fiber and the matrix, what other factors influence the
mechanical performance of a composite.
c. Explain monoclinic material with compliance and stiffness matrices.

Q7 a) A bidirectional woven composite ply may yield equal longitudinal and (10)
transverse Young’s modulus but is still orthotropic. Determine the angles of
the ply for which the shear modulus (Gxy) are maximum and minimum. Also
find these maximum and minimum values.
Given : E1 = 69 GPa, E2 = 69 GPa, ν 12 = 0.3, G12 = 20 GPa.
b) The stresses in the global axes of a 30° ply are given as σx = 4 MPa, σy = 2 (10)
MPa, and τxy = –3 MPa. Find the stresses in the local axes. Are the stresses
in the local axes independent of elastic moduli? Why or why not?

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Name:

Last Name:

Student ID:
GEBZE TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
ME 314 – INTRODUCTION TO COMPOSITE MATERIALS
SPRING 2021
Q.1 Q.2 Q.3 Q.4
MIDTERM EXAM (06.05.2021)
25 30 25 20

Q.1) (25 points)

a) What is the definition of a composite material? (10 pts)
b) What are the 3 most important advantages and disadvantages of composite materials compared to
classical materials? (15 pts)

Q.2) (30 points)

Calculate A12, B11 and D22 of ABD matrices for [60/45/90]S laminate orientation. Use E1 = 181 GPa,
E2 = 10.3 GPa, G12 = 7.17 GPa, ν12 = 0.28.
Note: Each ply has 0.125 mm thickness.

 23.64 32.46 20.05  56.65 42.31 42.86 10.34 2.89 0 

Q           
  60  32.46 109.37 54.19  GPa, Q  45   42.31 56.65 42.86 GPa, Q  90   2.89 181.81 0  GPa
 20.05 54.19 36.73  42.86 42.86 46.59  0 0 7.17 

Q.3) (25 points)

Calculate Vf for the hexagonal representative area

element given in the figure. s

d
Q.4) (20 points)
For a 60° angle lamina of glass/epoxy under stresses in global axes as σx= 15 MPa, σy= 12 MPa and
τxy= -3 MPa, using the material properties from table below, find the local stresses (σ1, σ2, τ12).
Name:

Last Name:

Student ID:

Show your work in detail!

Assoc. Prof. Ahmet Sinan ÖKTEM

Time: 120 minutes

Name:

Last Name:

Student ID:
GEBZE TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

ME 314 - INTRODUCTION TO COMPOSITE MATERIALS

2023 SPRING

MIDTERM EXAM

16/05/2023

Q.1) Calculate A11, B22 and D12 values of ABD matrices for the sandwich composite shown below. (30 pts)

Material properties of top and bottom skin:

E1= 160 GPa, ν12 = 0.35, E2 = 40 GPa,

G12 = 6 GPa.

Isotropic Core Material properties of isotropic core: E = 70 MPa, ν = 0.30.

165.05 14.44 0   41.26 14.44 0 


Q   = 14.44 41.26  
0  GPa , Q   = 14.44 165.05 0  GPa
 0  90
 0 0 6.00   0 0 6.00 
0.07 0.02 0 
Q  
=  0.02 0.07 0  GPa
  core
 0 0 0.03

Q.2) a) The stresses in the global axes of a 60 ply are given as σx = 2 MPa, σy = 12 MPa, and τxy = –5 MPa.
Find the stresses in the local axes (1-2 axes!). Show your work in detail! (15 pts)

b) The strains in the global axes of a 30° ply are given as εx = 4 μin./in., εy = 2μin./in., and γxy = –3 μin./in.
Find the strains in the local axes. Show your work in detail! (15 pts)

Q.3) Find the elastic moduli (longitudinal and transverse Young's modulus, major Poisson's ratio and in-
plane shear modulus) of a unidirectional glass/epoxy lamina with a 66% fiber volume fraction by using
micro-mechanics formulas. Use the properties of glass and epoxy from Table 3.1 and Table 3.2,
respectively. (use as much as elementary mechanics of materials approach!) (40 pts)
Name:

Last Name:

Student ID:

Show your work in detail!

Prof. Ahmet Sinan ÖKTEM

Good Luck!

Time: 60 minutes
ME – 314 INTRODUCTION TO COMPOSITE MATERIALS

2022-2023 SPRING

MIDTERM SOLUTIONS
3)
Name:

Last Name:

Student ID:
GEBZE TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
ME 314 INTRODUCTION TO COMPOSITE MATERIALS, FALL 2020
MIDTERM EXAM (10.12.2020)

Q.1) Give a brief decription of a composite material and write briefly three main advantages of
composite materials over classical materials. (20 pts)

Q.2) a) Describe what are plane-stress and plane-strain? (10 pts)

b) What are the stresses and strains for these two cases? (10 pts)
c) What is the main purpose to use these two approaches? (10 pts)
d) Give examples for both cases from real applications. Which one is preferred in the analysis of
composite materials? Why? (10 pts)

Q.3) a) The stresses in the global axes of a 30° ply are given as σx = 4 MPa, σy = 2 MPa, and τxy =
–3 MPa. Find the stresses in the local axes (1-2 axes!). Show your work in detail! (10 pts)

b) The strains in the global axes of a 30° ply are given as εx = 4 μin./in., εy = 2μin./in., and γxy =
–3 μin./in. Find the strains in the local axes. Show your work in detail! (10 pts)

Q.4) Find the elastic moduli (longitudinal and transverse Young's modulus, major Poisson's ratio
and in-plane shear modulus) of a unidirectional glass/epoxy lamina with a 70% fiber volume
fraction by using micro-mechanics formulas. Use the properties of glass and epoxy from Table 3.1
and Table 3.2, respectively. (20 pts)
Name:

Last Name:

Student ID:

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Sinan ÖKTEM

One formula sheet and calculator allowed
Good Luck !
Time: 50 minutes