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EAS Proposal Defense by Sen Yang

When: Friday, June 29, 2018
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Where: Textiles Building 101E
Description: TITLE: Electrical Response of Carbon Nanotube and Carbon Fiber Reinforced Jute/Epoxy Composites under Mechanical Loading

Abstract:
A comprehensive investigation is performed to determine the electro-mechanical response for damage detection in novel multi-functional natural fiber composites under various mechanical loads. These composites are made using jute/epoxy system embedded with multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and reinforced with carbon fibers between the laminates. Four process variables such as weight percentage of MWCNTs (0.1 and 0.025), flock length (150μm and 350μm), flock density (500, 1000, 1500, and 2000 fibers/mm2), and two jute fiber orientations ((0-0-0-0)T and (0-90-0-90)T) are considered in this investigation. The MWCNTs are embedded in the epoxy matrix using a combination of ultrasonication and shear mixing. The CFs are positioned along through thickness direction on the jute fiber laminates using UMass Dartmouth’s patented “wet flocking” technique. The embedded MWCNTs in the matrix and reinforced CFs between the laminates generate a three-dimensional electrical conductive network in the composite. The change in electrical network of the composite associated with the mechanical loading is determined by the four-circumferential ring probes (FCRP) technique.

In this study, first, a parametric study is performed to investigate the electrical resistivity of various composites with the above listed process variables. To have complete understanding of damage in multi-fucntional composites, electro-mechanical response of the composites is investigated under interlaminar shear and fracture loading conditions. Sincecomposites have curved structures in real-life situations, an experimental study is underway to determine the electro-mechanical response of curved composites under flexural loading, Moreover, a combination of theoretical and numerical schemes will be used to investigate the change in contact types of CNTs embedded in epoxy under shear loading conditions. The predicted electrical response will be validated with experimental findings.

Advisor: Dr. Vijaya B. Chalivendra, Mechanical Engineering
Committee members: Dr. Jun Li, Mechanical Engineering; Dr. Yong K. Kim, Bioengineering; and Dr. Jianyi Jay Wang, Physics

For further information, please contact Dr. Vijaya Chalivendra at 508-910-6572 or by email vchalivendra@umassd.edu.
Contact: EAS Seminar Series
Topical Areas: University Community, College of Engineering