Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

<p><strong><span style=""text-decoration: underline;"">Summary of Proposal&nbsp;</span></strong></p> <p>The subject of this proposal is the acquisition of a drop-tower impact testing machine for studies on composite materials subjected to impact loading. The equipment will be used to evaluate the impact resistance of composite and other materials in laminate, sheet, or sandwich panel forms. Simple impact tests based on energy levels calculated from impactor height and weight can be used for basic assessments of a material&rsquo;s resistance to impact, but the use of an instrumented impact tester will allow researchers in the area of structural impact to acquire data enabling them to better understand the nature of the damage modes and energy absorption of the structures under test.</p> <p>Although not necessarily limited to the aerospace industry, the drop tower will primarily be used to impact coupon and subcomponent specimens typical of aerospace structural elements. The data acquired from the instrumented impactor will be used to characterize the damage due to different impactors and energy levels on different material forms such as unidirectional, 2D weaves, and 2.5 - 3D stitched, knitted and braided fibre structures. Damage sensitivity as a function of manufacturing processes such as hand lay-up and automated fibre placement will be investigated. Impacted specimens will also be used for sensor research to validate sensing technologies and methodologies for impact event, damage detection and assessment (size, visible and invisible damage size) as well as investigations into damage growth after impact under cyclic loading. The drop tower will also be used to validate predictive models for damage modes in typical subcomponent geometries and curvatures based on impactor type and energy levels. Predictive models for damage growth as a result of fatigue spectra may also be validated using this equipment. </p> <p>The outcomes of these research activities can be expected to benefit, in the aerospace industry alone, original equipment manufacturers, maintenance, repair and overhaul organizations, supply chain and material manufacturers by developing and validating predictive models, new materials, miniature sensors, smart materials, non-destructive evaluation techniques, new and innovative material forms and manufacturing methodologies. </p>