Composites (in general)

Dear Steve, Daniel, and all the presenters,

As a manufacturing company located in Italy, we've been told by the environmental agency here that in a new operation, such as ours, they will not allow/license the manufacture of anything with open access to resin. Therefore, meeting the environmental requirements will far outweigh the costs involved in developing the same process using pultrusion dies with infusion of resin. Additionally, due to new VOC regulations any existing operation using such methods has a limited number of years to cease all high VOC type of activity in area's open to workers.

This points to the answer for ladder manufacture question and the nature of the information shared.

Is there any data available for E-Glass/Unsaturated Polyester (isophthalic) combination to use in MicMac? I have only found E-glass/Epoxy combinations to date. Thanks!

In building carbon bicycle frames we use the traditional tube to tube construction method.

Dear all,

A few years back, I'd done some work regarding faster means of curing of composites for our internal production processes, basically to think of alternative ways to create better aircraft parts without the costs and cycle time of autoclaves. There was something similar to what I was thinking that was being done elsewhere as well. So this is what we found out, catalytic conversion of methane gives energy in the 2-9micron range, which is better than a focused energy at a single frequency that electric/infrared/microwave-generator would give. This spread of energy is suited for curing of composites. This is a very basic youtube video on catalytic heaters.

However, there is a problem, that methane catalytic converters have a hard time in finely controlling the amount of heat. Due to lack of resources and the pre-programming (that we should have a certain curing cycle etc.) we had from our epoxy supplier, we dropped this idea early on, but perhaps it was too early. If one could have a part that moved in between a bank of such catalytic heaters, one could control the absorption of radiation. There are some other ideas that could control that heat. If anyone among you is interested, to independently pursue, perhaps its an idea worth investigating. Or if you've already tried it, it will be great to hear your views.

Thanks,
N

Dear all, For those who may be interested. Do a search on a company called Rocky Mountain Composites on the patent server of google. Here is a link of the search today. This company has some of the best patents for aircraft production techniques. They benefited from a project that Toyota funded many years back when Toyota wanted to enter into the general aviation world.

A similar search for Boeing on composites is also available here. Then there is a great patent on VAP by EADS.

Happy reading and hope you get great ideas for your projects.

N

Hi,

Here are some details about SQRTM (Same Qualified RTM): http://www.compositesworld.com/articles/sqrtm-enables-net-shape-parts

Dear all,

I wonder if anyone among you have experience with Basalt fibers. What are the material allowables (A or B) that one can use with Basalt?

Thanks

Getting an error for HW#6 when pulling up SMM+ & MMFatigue:
"This workbook has one or more links which can not be updated

Is there any way to do what happened yesterday and post a pdf of the lecture presentation and the corresponding HW BEFORE class begins please?

Dear all,

for those of you who are interested I have just created a group "Multi-Scale and Progressive Damage Analysis of Composites" on Linkedin.

Thanks

Alberto

Hi,
Has anyone come across curing of dry fiber/wet resin after hand lay up in autoclave?

Dear Participants,

The recorded lectures are located under the date they were given in the Workshop 2 download utility on the left hand side of this forum.

You can download the webex player required to play the .wrf files at
http://www.webex.com/downloadplayer.html

Thanks!

Dear Participants,

We will be assigning multiple homework sets throughout the workshop. The homework sets assigned during lectures this week (Jan. 8 and 9) will be due next Monday, January 11.

The homework sets assigned during lectures next week (Jan. 11-15) will be due the following Monday, January 18.

You may submit typed solutions or scans of handwritten work, whichever you prefer.

Please compile your work for each homework set into a single file (e.g. YourNameHomework1.doc) and send your solution to:

CDW.Homework@gmail.com

Thanks!

An interesting interview with Prof.Steve Tsai has recently been posted on the MSC Software Blog at:

http://simulatemore.mscsoftware.com/2009/12/22/trust-simulation/

Dear All,

Here is a note from Professor Tsai on the 10% rule:

I am having trouble logging on to webex today (Tues. morn session). Is webex still having the same problems as they did yesterday morning?