Code No: RR412109 Set No.

1
IV B.Tech I Semester Supplementary Examinations, February 2007
COMPOSITE MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES
(Aeronautical Engineering)
Time: 3 hours Max Marks: 80
Answer any FIVE Questions
All Questions carry equal marks
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1. (a) What are the unique properties of composite over conventional materials?
Explain them?
(b) Mention various phases in fibrous composites. Explain their functions. [8+8]

2. (a) Explain Flexural rigidity & Rigidity modulus. [6]

(b) A sand which construction employs two GRP skins each 3 mm thick made from
polyester resign in combination with polyurethane foam core 24 mm deep. The
construction is in the form of a 100 mm. wide beam. Moduli of polyesterskin
and foam are. 7000 N/mm2 and 20 N/mm2 respectively. Calculate. [10]
i. The Flexural rigidity of the sandwhich construction and
ii. Compare it with Flexural rigidity of 6 mm thick GRP beam of the same
width.

3. (a) i. What is Micro Buckling and Elastic Micro buckling? [5]

ii. Write a short notes on compressive failure of Fibre composites due to
Micro Bucking. [5]
(b) What do you mean by stress concentration? Explain the effect of Elastic and
plastic stress concentrations on the overall behavior of metal-Matrix compos-
ite. [6]

4. (a) Explain how FRP composites elastic constant is found theoretically, when the
fibres are transverse and longitudinal direction.
[8]
(b) Explain the response of stress to composites by applying the rule of mixtures.
[8]

5. (a) The lid of an electronic package is made from a glass reinforced polymer com-
posite. The corners of the lid must be able to with stand minor impact loads
that may be applied in any direction during service. What Fibre architecture
would you recommend for this application and why. [8]
(b) What do you mean by wettability and contact angle. Explain the relation
between wettability and contact angle. Explain the effect of wettability on
the banding and bond strength at the interface of FRP composite. [8]

6. Bring out the differences among the following with suitable examples. [4x4=16]

(a) Anti symmetric laminates

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Code No: RR412109 Set No. 1
(b) Anti symmetric cross-ply laminates
(c) Anti symmetric balanced laminates and
(d) Qausi-isotropic laminates

7. (a) Using Naviers method obtain an expression for the deflected shape of lami-
nated plate carrying in single load. [8m]
(b) Discuss the behavior of laminated plates under the influence of simultaneous
bending and stretching. [8m]

8. What are the various solid state compaction processes that are used for the pro-
duction of composite materials. Explain them with neat sketches. [16]

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Code No: RR412109 Set No. 2
IV B.Tech I Semester Supplementary Examinations, February 2007
COMPOSITE MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES
(Aeronautical Engineering)
Time: 3 hours Max Marks: 80
Answer any FIVE Questions
All Questions carry equal marks
⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

1. What is a Matrix. What are the various types of matrices used in the composite
material? Explain the advantages and disadvantages and applications of each one
of them.
[16]

2. Compare and contrast the following fibres.

(a) Carbon [5]

(b) Aramid (aromatic polymide) [6]
(c) Glass. With respect to composition; properties, applications and limitations.
[5]

3. (a) What are the various engineering/ Elastic constents. Explain them in detail.
[8]
(b) Explain the importance / knowledge of the above constents in the study /
behavior of FRP composite materials. [8]

4. (a) Explain how does the amount and arrangement of the glass fibers in fiber glass
reinforced plastics affect their strength. [8]
(b) A structural panel of an aircraft has to be produced using a continuous fibre
reinforced polycarbonate composite. The designed stiffness of the panel is
100Gpa. What volume fraction of fibre has to be used to meet the design
stress. Module of poly carbonate and carbon fibre are 2.5Gpa and 700Gpa
respectively. (Assume iso strain conditions). [8]

5. Assuming the Matrix to be ideally plastic draw the curve and explain how the
variation of interfacial shear stress various with distance from fibre end. [16]

6. (a) A laminate of [0 | ± 450 | 900 ] s lay up is loaded under inplane bi axial loading.
Nx = 2PN0 ; NY = 4 N0 , Ns =0 and the strains occurred have the following
o 0
value. x = 2.6 × 10 ; ∈y = 10.2 × 10
−3 −3

∈os = 0
Determine poissons ratio [9]
(b) What is stiffening effect. Explain factors that can influence the stiffening effect
of laminates. [7]

7. (a) Derive an expression for the deflection in the case of cylindrical beding of
uniformly loaded long rectangular laminated plate with build in edges. [8m]

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Code No: RR412109 Set No. 2
(b) Discuss about buckling of rectangular laminated plates. [8m]

8. Explain the ‘Melt Extrusion’ process with the help of a neat sketch for the produc-
tion of synthetic fibres. Explain the advantages of this method over other synthetic
production methods. [16]

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Code No: RR412109 Set No. 3
IV B.Tech I Semester Supplementary Examinations, February 2007
COMPOSITE MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES
(Aeronautical Engineering)
Time: 3 hours Max Marks: 80
Answer any FIVE Questions
All Questions carry equal marks
⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

1. (a) What is generally considered to be the most serious problem associated with
the use of CMC’s? How is this problem addressed. [8]
(b) Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of carbon carbon composites over
traditional PMC’s. [8]

2. Distinguish clearly between:

(a) Agglomerated composite materials. [5]

(b) Laminate composite materials [6]
(c) Reinforced composite materials. [5]

3. (a) In an Epoxy/s-glass composite system it is desired that the longitudinal Elastic

modulus be atleast twice that of the transverse elastic modulus. What volume
fraction of fibres is necessary to achieve this condition? [9]
(b) Explain why the rule of Mixtures does not yield an accurate estimate for the
coefficient of thermal expansion. [7]

4. (a) Explain about laminates and give a detailed classification of laminates. [8]
(b) A metal-Matrix composite is made from a Boran fibre reinforced in Aluminium
alloy. To form the Boran fibre, a Tungsten wire (r=10µ m) is coated with Bo-
ran, giving a final radius of 75µ m. The Aluminium alloy is then Bonded
around the Boran fibres, given a volume fraction of 0.65 for the Aluminium
alloy. Assuming that rule of mixtures applies also to ternary mixtures; cal-
culate the effective tensile elastic modulus of composite material under iso
strain conditions. Give ET ungsten = 410Gpa; EBoran = 379Gpa and EAluminium
= 68.9Gpa. [8]

5. Explain why carbon fibres have a modulus of elasticity that is so different along the
fiber axis compared to the value in the transverse direction. Do you expect elastic
modulus of a diamond fibre to be different in different directions? Explain. [16]

6. (a) Write an essay on classical lamination teory using Kirchoff’s hypothesis giving
the additional assumptions made in the theory. [8m]
(b) Distinguish between lamina and laminate. [4m]
(c) Explain Qausi-isotropic laminate. [4m]

7. (a) Give the relevant equations/expressions to analyze the deflection and fracture
characteristics of laminated plates and explain them. [9m]

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Code No: RR412109 Set No. 3
(b) Differentiate between thin and thick laminated plates. [7m]

8. Explain the following casting processes with neat sketches that force the liquid
around the fibres in composite material production techniques. 4x4=16

(a) Capillary rise

(b) Pressure casting
(c) Vacuum infiltration
(d) Continuous casting.

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Code No: RR412109 Set No. 4
IV B.Tech I Semester Supplementary Examinations, February 2007
COMPOSITE MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES
(Aeronautical Engineering)
Time: 3 hours Max Marks: 80
Answer any FIVE Questions
All Questions carry equal marks
⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

1. (a) Explain what is meant by the term chemical bonding as it relates to a fiber-
matrix interface. [8]
(b) Suggest an appropriate Matrix to be used with each of the following fiber
types.
[4]
i. E glass
ii. Boron
iii. Oriented polyethylene
iv. Sic
(c) Suggest on appropriate application for each of the following fiber types
i. S glass
ii. KEVLAR
iii. Al203.
[4]

2. What are the various properties that are to be consider for good bonding between
fibres and matrix. Explain them with suitable examples. [16]

3. (a) Derive the expression for the matrix critical length in a Brittle matrix- ductile
fiber composite. [8]
(b) The shear strength of an Aluminium alloy is 150Mpa. This alloy is under con-
sideration for being reinforced by Sic whiskers, which have a tensile strength
of 8Gpa. Estimate the critical aspect ratio to achieve fibre strengthening as-
suming [8]
i. The interface strength is larger than the matrix shear strength and
ii. The interface strength is only half of the matrix shear strength.

4. (a) Compare and constrast the working behavior of composite materials contain-
ing continuous fibres and discontinuous fibres. [8]
(b) What is rule of Mixtures. What are the various material properties that are
predicted by the rule of mixtures. Explain them fully. [8]

5. Explain why carbon fibres have a modulus of elasticity that is so different along the
fiber axis compared to the value in the transverse direction. Do you expect elastic
modulus of a diamond fibre to be different in different directions? Explain. [16]

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Code No: RR412109 Set No. 4
6. (a) Explain what do you mean by symmetric cross-ply laminate. [6m]
(b) With the help of neat sketches distinguish fully between [0/90]s and [90/0]s
laminates. [2x5=10]

7. (a) Derive the 4th order differential equation for bending of orthotropic laminate
plates.
[8m]
(b) Explain free vibration of unsymmetrical angle-ply laminated plate. [8m]

8. (a) What is fibre? How the fibers are classified. Explain each one of them in
detail.
[8]
(b) What are synthetic fibers? What are the various methods available for the
production of synthetic fibres. Explain the working principle of each one of
them. [8]

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