Browsing by Author "Langdon, G S"

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    Adhesive properties of thermoset fibre metal laminates
    (2014) van Tonder, Talita; Langdon, G S; Von Klemperer, C J
    Fibre metal laminates (FMLs) are composite materials that consist of layers of metal and fibre reinforced polymers. FMLs are used in the construction of aircraft fuselage skins, such as the Airbus A380. GLARE, the only commercially available FML, is of particular interest due to its damage tolerance and potential impact and blast resistance. GLARE is not commercially available and attempts at manufacturing FMLs similar to GLARE at the Blast Impact Survivability and Research Unit (BISRU) laboratories have been unsuccessful. The FMLs readily exhibited debonding between the aluminium and glass fibre reinforced epoxy, often upon handling prior to impact or blast events. The purpose of this study was therefore to investigate manufacturing techniques in order to produce FMLs that would be able to withstand impact and blast loads. Adhesive surface pre-treatment techniques and manufacturing methods typically employed in aircraft construction were investigated with particular emphasis on the adhesion of aluminium to epoxy in FMLs. This interface was of particular interest as good bonding facilitates load transfer under dynamic loading and was identified as the point of failure of the previously manufactured FMLs. The effects of surface treatment techniques used to enhance adhesion were investigated under quasi-static conditions using Single Leg Bend tests. Chemical surface treatments such as alodining, etching, anodising, silane treatments and combinations thereof were investigated. The effect of resin and the inclusion of a film adhesive were also investigated. The silane treatments were identified as the chemical treatments that provided the best adhesion, however the film adhesive significantly improved the fracture toughness regardless of the chemical surface treatment.
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    Performance of mild steel perforated plates as a blast wave mitigation technique
    (2008) Rossiter, Ian Barclay; Langdon, G S; Nurick, G N
    This thesis presents the results of an investigation into the effects of several geometric parameters on the performance of perforated plates as a blast wave mitigation technique. Results of experimental and numerical simulations are reported. The main objective of this investigation was to determine the effects of the perforated plate hole size on the blast wave mitigation capability of the plate. The blast wave was created by detonating plastic explosives. The blast wave travelled unhindered down the length of a cylindrical tube where it came into contact with the perforated plate.