Full Text Available
Note: Clicking the button above will open the full text document at the original institutional repository in a new window.
Application of commingled thermoplastic composites on an airline seat backrest
Thesis (MScEng (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
2009
|
| Subjects: | |
| Tags: |
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1867613739359928321 |
|---|---|
| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Mattheyse, Richard |
| author2 | Van der Westhuizen, K. |
| author_browse | Mattheyse, Richard Van der Westhuizen, K. |
| author_facet | Van der Westhuizen, K. Mattheyse, Richard |
| author_sort | Mattheyse, Richard |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | University of Stellenbosch |
| description | Thesis (MScEng (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/2132 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:40:56.191Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2009 |
| publishDateRange | 2009 |
| publishDateSort | 2009 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/2132 Application of commingled thermoplastic composites on an airline seat backrest Mattheyse, Richard Van der Westhuizen, K. Van Rijswijk, Kjelt University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering. Commingled thermoplastic composites Autoclave processing Fibre reinforced thermoplastics (CFRTPs) Dissertations -- Mechanical engineering Theses -- Mechanical engineering Thermoplastic composites Airplanes -- Seats Thesis (MScEng (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Thermoplastic composites (TPCs) have shown significant advantages over thermosetting composites. They have only been put into use recently and global knowledge in TPCs is often proprietary, therefore a study into the application, processing and properties is of importance. The aim of the study is to contribute knowledge in TPCs for South African industry and academic institutions. This thesis studies continuous fibre reinforced thermoplastics (CFRTPs), focussing on the autoclave processing of commingled CFRTPs. A literature study provided background knowledge to CFRTPs regarding processing techniques and mechanics. Flexural testing and impact testing were performed on a variety of CFRTPs and thermosetting composites (TSCs). These tests were performed to further understand CFRTPs as well as to compare CFRTPs and TSCs. The flexural testing revealed that CFRTPs have comparable strength and stiffness to the TSCs that were tested. They also revealed that pre-consolidated sheets showed better and more consistent properties than sheets made from commingled fabric. The impact testing revealed that the tested CFRTPs and TSCs had similar impact resistance even though thermoplastic composites are supposed to be more impact resistant. The tests also showed that thick unreinforced thermoplastics had much higher impact resistance than the reinforced materials. Manufacturing experiments were performed to establish sound processing methods of CFRTPs. It was realised here that the high temperatures required to process the materials require specific processing consumables and tooling. The experiments began by processing flat panels in a convection oven with vacuum bagging techniques. They then progressed to autoclave processing of parts with complex geometry. An airline seat backrest was chosen as the case study in the application of CFRTPs. This application requires structural strength and stiffness and also has strict fire, smoke, toxicity and heat release (FSTH) requirements. Its geometry was sufficiently complex to demonstrate the use of commingled CFRTP material. Backrests were made from both CFRTPs and TSCs so that a comparison could be made between the two types. The backrest was modelled using finite element methods (FEM) to determine an adequate lay-up. This lay-up was then used for both the CFRTP and TSC backrests to ensure similarity between the backrests of both materials. LPET (modified polyethylene terephthalate) was the chosen thermoplastic matrix as it was more attainable than PPS (polyphenylene sulphide) CFRTPs. The backrests of both materials were manufactured in an autoclave with a vacuum bag method and then assembled using adhesives and bonding jigs. Testing revealed that the stiffness and mass of the CFRTP backrests were very similar to the epoxy backrests. This implies that commingled CFRTPs can replace the use of TSCs in similar applications. A basic cost comparison was also performed to compare the manufacture of CFRTP backrests to TSC backrests. Further work is needed to optimise processing time of these materials to make them more competitive with TSCs. The processing time of commingled materials will probably never be as quick as that of press formed pre-consolidated sheets. Their ability to be formed into more complex parts does however make their use advantageous. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Termoplastiese saamgestelde materiale (Engels: thermoplastic composites (TPCs)) toon beduidende voordele bo termoverhardbare saamgestelde materiale. Hulle word eers sedert onlangs benut en algemene kennis in TPCs is dikwels patentregtelik, dus is ’n studie van die aanwending, prosessering en eienskappe daarvan van belang. Die doel van hierdie studie is om ’n bydrae te lewer tot die kennis van TPCs vir die Suid-Afrikaanse industrie en akademiese instellings. Hierdie tesis ondersoek kontinue veselversterkte termoplastieke (Engels: continuous fibre reinforced thermoplastics (CFRTPs)) en fokus op die outoklaafprosessering van vermengde (Engels: commingled) CFRTPs. ’n Literatuurstudie het die agtergrondkennis rakende die prosesseringstegnieke en meganika van CFRTPs verskaf. Buigtoetsing en impaktoetsing is op ’n verskeidenheid CFRTPs en termoverhardbare saamgestelde materiale (Engels: thermosetting composites (TSCs)) uitgevoer. Hierdie toetse is uitgevoer om CFRTPs beter te verstaan asook om CFRTPs en TSCs te vergelyk. Die buigtoetsing het onthul dat CFRTPs ooreenstemmende sterkte en styfheid het as die TSCs wat getoets is. Dit het ook getoon dat vooraf-gekonsolideerde plate beter en meer konsekwente eienskappe getoon het as plate wat van vermengde materiaal gemaak is. Die impaktoetsing het onthul dat die CFRTPs en TSCs wat getoets is soortgelyke impakweerstand gehad het, selfs al is termoplastiese saamgestelde materiale veronderstel om meer impakweerstand te toon. Die toetse het ook getoon dat dik onversterkte termoplastieke veel hoër impakweerstand gehad het as die versterkte materiale. Vervaardigingseksperimente is uitgevoer om betroubare prosesseringsmetodes vir CFRTPs vas te stel. Daar is besef dat die hoër temperature wat vereis word om die materiale te prosesseer ook spesifieke prosesseringsverbruiksware en -gereedskap benodig. Die eksperimente het begin met die prosessering van reguit panele in ’n konveksie-oond met vakuumsaktegnieke. Daar is toe aanbeweeg na die outoklaafprosessering van onderdele met komplekse geometrie. Die rugleuning van ’n vliegtuigsitplek is gekies as die gevallestudie in die gebruik van CFRTPs. Hierdie toepassing vereis strukturele sterkte en styfheid en is ook onderhewig aan streng vereistes t.o.v. brand, rook, toksisiteit en hittevrystellimg (Engels FSTH). Die geometrie daarvan was kompleks genoeg om die gebruik van vermengde CFRTP-materiaal te demonstreer. Rugleunings is gemaak van beide CFRTPs en TSCs sodat ’n vergelyking tussen die twee tipes gemaak kon word. Die rugleuning is gemodelleer deur eindige element metodes (EEM) te gebruik om ’n aanvaarbare oplegging te bepaal. Hierdie oplegging is toe gebruik vir beide die CFRTP en TSC rugleunings om die gelykvormigheid tussen die rugleunings van beide materiale te verseker. LPET (Engels: modified polyethylene terephthalate) was die gekose termoplastiese matriks aangesien dit meer verkrygbaar was as PPS (Engels: polyphenylene sulphide) CFRTPs. Die rugleunings van beide materiale is vervaardig in ’n outoklaaf met ’n vakuumsakmetode en toe geintegreer deur die gebruik van kleefstowwe en setmate. Toetsing het getoon dat die styfheid en massa van die CFRTP rugleunings baie soortgelyk was aan die epoksie rugleunings. Dit impliseer dat vermengde CFRTP die plek van TSCs in soortgelyke gebruike kan inneem. ’n Basiese kostevergelyking is ook gedoen om die vervaardiging van CFRTP-rugleunings teenoor TSC-rugleunings te vergelyk. 2009-11-24T07:45:36Z 2010-06-01T08:41:07Z 2009-11-24T07:45:36Z 2010-06-01T08:41:07Z 2009-12 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/2132 en University of Stellenbosch application/pdf Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| spellingShingle | Commingled thermoplastic composites Autoclave processing Fibre reinforced thermoplastics (CFRTPs) Dissertations -- Mechanical engineering Theses -- Mechanical engineering Thermoplastic composites Airplanes -- Seats Mattheyse, Richard Application of commingled thermoplastic composites on an airline seat backrest |
| title | Application of commingled thermoplastic composites on an airline seat backrest |
| title_full | Application of commingled thermoplastic composites on an airline seat backrest |
| title_fullStr | Application of commingled thermoplastic composites on an airline seat backrest |
| title_full_unstemmed | Application of commingled thermoplastic composites on an airline seat backrest |
| title_short | Application of commingled thermoplastic composites on an airline seat backrest |
| title_sort | application of commingled thermoplastic composites on an airline seat backrest |
| topic | Commingled thermoplastic composites Autoclave processing Fibre reinforced thermoplastics (CFRTPs) Dissertations -- Mechanical engineering Theses -- Mechanical engineering Thermoplastic composites Airplanes -- Seats |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/2132 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mattheyserichard applicationofcommingledthermoplasticcompositesonanairlineseatbackrest |