Thesis
Computational fracture analysis of carbon fiber composite structural batteries
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
14 Jun 2021
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00000401
Abstract
Due to the ever-approaching electrification of the transportation industry, new materials are being researched to save weight. One such material is the Structural Battery Composite (SBC). These composites are designed to simultaneously carry mechanical loads while delivering and storing electrical energy. Safety is of the utmost importance when it comes to the transportation industry. Thus, a need to determine crash safety and fracture mechanics of this material arises. In this work, the phase field method was identified as a suitable tool to analyze crack growth in the semi-complex geometries of microstructural SBCs. Two dimensional pre-cracked models were created that display the typical cross-sectional geometry of a unidirectional composite. A geometric edge crack was given at the boundary of the models. Either shear or tension was then applied to the pre-damaged model to investigate damage evolution of SBCs in the transverse plane. Further simulations were conducted with geometric radial pre-cracks at the coating-matrix interface to study damage initiation from the swelling and shrinking of charging fibers and its resulting crack trajectory under mechanical loading. Results indicate that microcracks formed in fiber coatings are beneficial for inhibiting crack growth in models with larger fiber spacing and validated them as a toughening mechanism. Fiber pattern was shown to have a large effect on fracture energy in shear models, and a comparison on uniform and random fiber patterns was made to view this phenomena. Additionally, fiber pattern and spacing had a significant effect on crack trajectory and microcrack formation.
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Details
- Title
- Computational fracture analysis of carbon fiber composite structural batteries
- Creators
- Chase E. Foley
- Contributors
- Ahmad Raeisi Najafi (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- xvi, 92 pages
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- College of Engineering (1970-2026); Mechanical Engineering (and Mechanics) (1970-2026); Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991015080449204721