Mechanical Performances Analysis and Prediction of Short Plant Fiber-Reinforced PLA Composites.

Plant fiber-reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) exhibits excellent mechanical properties and environmental friendliness and, therefore, has a wide range of applications. This study investigated the mechanical properties of three short plant fiber-reinforced PLA composites (flax, jute, and ramie) using mechanical testing and material characterization techniques (SEM, FTIR, and DSC). Additionally, we propose a methodology for predicting the mechanical properties of high-content short plant fiber-reinforced composite materials. Results indicate that flax fibers provide the optimal reinforcement effect due to differences in fiber composition and microstructure. Surface pretreatment of the fibers using alkali and silane coupling agents increases the fiber-matrix interface contact area, improves interface performance, and effectively enhances the mechanical properties of the composite. The mechanical properties of the composites increase with increasing fiber content, reaching the highest value at 40%, which is 38.79% higher than pure PLA. However, further increases in content lead to fiber agglomeration and decreased composite properties. When the content is relatively low (10%), the mechanical properties are degraded because of internal defects in the material, which is 40.42% lower than pure PLA. Through Micro-CT technology, the fiber was reconstructed, and it was found that the fiber was distributed mainly along the direction of injection molding, and the twin-screw process changes the shape and length of the fiber. By introducing the fiber agglomeration factor function and correcting the Halpin-Tsai criterion, the mechanical properties of composite materials with different contents were successfully predicted. Considering the complex stress state of composite materials in actual service processes, a numerical simulation method was established based on transversely isotropic material using the finite element method combined with theoretical analysis. The mechanical properties of high-content short plant fiber-reinforced composite materials were successfully predicted, and the simulation results showed strong agreement with the experimental results.

Influence of Temperature, Humidity and Load Coupling on Mechanical Properties of Adhesive Joints and Establishment of Creep Model.

To study the creep and property degradation behavior of adhesive joints under the coupling action of temperature, humidity and load, polyurethane shear joints were prepared and tested. Different static loads were applied to joints at high temperature (80 °C) and high temperature and humidity (80 °C/95% RH) to test and analyze the creep deformation, and a suitable creep model was established. At the same time, the performance degradation test of the joints under the effect of multifactor coupling was carried out to obtain the variation law of the failure load, and the failure mechanism was discussed based on the failure section. The research shows that the creep strain of the joint at high temperature and humidity was significantly larger than that at high temperature, and the failure fracture time was shorter, in which water molecules played a role of softening and hydrolysis. The viscoelastic multi-integral creep model was used to analyze and predict the creep behavior of the joints. It was found that the creep model could better describe the creep behavior of the joints under uniaxial constant loading. Under the coupling effect of temperature, humidity and load, the failure load decreased with time, and with the increase in static load, the decline range and rate of failure load increased. It was found that the mechanical properties in the high temperature and humidity environment decreased significantly more than those in the high temperature environment. When a static load was applied during creep, cracks easily occurred inside the adhesive layer, and water molecules easily diffused inside the cracks, which increased the decay rate of the mechanical properties. This study provides good theoretical significance and engineering value for the application of polyurethane adhesion structures in rail vehicles.

Effect of Service Temperature on Mechanical Properties of Adhesive Joints after Hygrothermal Aging.

Polyurethane adhesive and aluminum alloy were selected to make adhesive joints. Butt joints tested at different loading angles (0°, 45°, and 90°) using a modified Arcan fixture were selected to represent three stress states (normal stress, normal/shear combined stress, and shear stress, respectively). Firstly, the accelerated aging tests were carried out on the joints in a hygrothermal environment (80 °C/95% RH). The quasi-static tests were carried out at different temperatures (-40 °C, 20 °C, and 80 °C) for the joints after hygrothermal aging for different periods. The variation rules of the joints' mechanical properties and failure modes with different aging levels were studied. The results show that the failure load of the joints was obviously affected by stress state and temperature. In the low-temperature test, the failure load of the joints decreased most obviously, and the BJ was the most sensitive to temperature, indicating that the failure load decreased more with the increase of the normal stress ratio in the joint. Through macroscopic and SEM analysis of the failure section, it was found that the hydrolysis reaction of polyurethane adhesive itself and the interface failure of the joints were the main reasons for the decrease of joint strength. The failure models were established to characterize the adhesive structure with different aging levels at service temperature.