Benha University Benha Faculty of Engineering Mechanical Engineering Department Researcher Name: Research for: Abdalla Mohamed Abdalla

M.Sc.

Research Field/ Research Specialization/ Research Title: Enhancement of Structural Composites Mechanical Properties by CNTs with Minimum Cost Impact Research Keywords: Composites, Nanocomposites, Finite Element Analysis, Joints, Structures, Failure Analysis. Introduction/ Importance: Composites are used in structures that demand a high level of mechanical performance. Their high strength to weight and stiffness to weight ratios have facilitated the development of lighter structures, which replace traditional metal structures. Due to strength and safety requirements, these applications require joining composites either to composites or to metals. Although leading to a weight penalty due to stress concentration created by drilling a hole in the laminate, mechanical fasteners are widely used in the aerospace industry. In fact mechanically fastened joints (pinned joints) are unavoidable in complex structures because of their low cost, simplicity for assemble and facilitation of disassembly for repair. An example is that the types of parts that make up an airframe (fuselage and/or wing) are the same for metal and composite structure. It is possible to replace, part for part, an aluminum airframe by an equivalent composite airframe. This would typically be a skin-stiffened built-up structure with fasteners connecting the different parts. Today, despite a large number of researches on the behavior of mechanically fastened joints of composite materials, not enough advancement has been recorded compared to that in homogeneous materials in terms of understanding the fastener behavior. Photos related to the research topic:

Fig. 1 Fasteners in MiG3 Fuselage

Fig. 2 Fasteners in MiG3 Wings

Fig. 3 Damage for Bolted Joint

Intended Research Outcomes: Determination of the stresses, strength and life prediction of pinned joints, while capturing the effects of geometry, stacking sequence. Prediction of the failure mode & load in each composite layer, and the global failure mode & load of the specimen using Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Solving the effect of washer size and tightening torque on the performance of bolted joints in composite structures using FEA. Studying how to make enhancement of mechanical properties by carbon nanotubes in structural composite critical regions only to apply the principle of Min.Cost Impact. Research Summary Template MECH-CONF-1 27th March 2012