Synergy in research on the thermomechanical fatigue behaviour of polymer composites over their structural lifetime

• Dates: 2022-2023
• Place: Freiburg University, Silesian University of Technology
• PI: Frank Balle, Andrzej Katunin
• Team: Aravind Premanand, Bilal Khatri, Tomasz Rogala, Dominik Wachla, Jafar Amraei
• Cooperating staff: Grzegorz Kokot, Wacław Kuś, Marcin Bilewicz, Michael Rienks
• Funding source: German Research Foundation

Carbon-fiber and glass-fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs, GFRPs) are becoming increasingly important in the field of mobility (e-vehicles and aviation) as well as for wind energy generation, enabling lighter materials with overall greater strength- and stiffness-to-density ratio as well as energy efficient systems. For the safe and robust operation over their time in service, it is essential to gain an in-depth knowledge of the potential damage behavior of these materials and hybrid components. To ensure reliable results within a feasible time frame the accelerated fatigue testing at ultrasonic frequencies is performed. The investigations were focused on the influence of the self-heating effect on fatigue at low and ultrasonic frequency regimes and comparison of the achieved results in both regimes.

Representative publications:

Premanand A., Rogala T., Wachla D., Amraei J., Katunin A., Khatri B., Rienks M., Balle F., Fatigue strength estimation of a CF/PEKK composite through self-heating temperature analysis using cyclic bending tests at 20 kHz, Composites Science and Technology 243, 2023, 110218.

Amraei J., Rogala T., Katunin A., Premanand A., Kokot G., Wachla D., Kuś W., Bilewicz M., Khatri B., Balle F., Thermomechanical fatigue behavior of CF/PEKK composite under low and ultrasonic frequencies, Composites Part B: Engineering 281, 2024, 111539.