Browsing by Author "Marat-Mendes, R."
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- Assessment of Replacement of Metal Parts by BFRP Composites into a Highly Efficient Electrical PrototypePublication . Marat-Mendes, R.; Ribeira, D.; Reis, L.This work intends to evaluate the use of epoxy composite materials reinforced with basalt fibers as replacement to metallic mechanical parts of a highly efficient electrical prototype. The analysis of the behavior of the original metallic bracket was made and an optimization process was carried out in order to achieve the most suitable geometry and stacking sequence if produced in composite material. Finite element analysis using Siemens NX12 and experimental tests to the produced composite part were performed in order to access it. It was verified that the total weight of the composite part shows a 45% reduction. The composite part shows a higher deformation than the metallic one due to basalt fiber’s higher flexibility. However, the advantages added by the new component largely compensate for the disadvantages that may have been added without compromising its performance. Obtained results show that the use of basalt fiber reinforced composites as the material of mechanical parts of a highly efficient electrical prototype that is a good alternative.
- Effect of Fused Filament Fabrication Processing Parameters on The Mechanical Properties of PLA ComponentsPublication . Marat-Mendes, R.; Guedes, M.; Leite, M.; Baptista, R.This paper studies the influence of Fused Filament Fabrication processing parameters upon mechanical properties and microstructural features of processed PLA parts. The effect of extrusion temperature and raster angle were tested upon two PLA filaments of different trademarks, DoWire and BQ, using a commercial fused deposition extruder. The filling density, layer thickness and velocity were kept constant at 60 %, 0.2 mm and 40 mm/s, respectively. Results allowed to determine fused filament fabrication parameters resulting in increased mechanical performance of manufactured parts. Mechanical performance is higher when material is stored under controlled atmosphere before use, and when material deposition direction is aligned with applied load. Increasing the extrusion temperature also increases performance, by increasing deformation ability of PLA molecules. Obtained results contribute to accumulation of a property database and provide design guidance to the procurement of additive manufacturing products with enhanced mechanical strength.
- Experimental and Numerical Characterization of Stress-Strain Fields on Sandwich Beams, Subjected to 3PB and 4PBPublication . Marat-Mendes, R.; Martins, R.; Reis, L.
- Flexural testing and analysis of fullstrain-fields in sandwich composites.Publication . Marat-Mendes, R.; Martins, R.; Garcia, A.; Reis, L.The objective of this work was to characterize the full-field flexural behavior of composite sandwich beams. Finite element analysis was used to estimate the behavior of sandwich beams under three- and four-point-bending tests and were compared with experimental results obtained via digital image correlation and strain-gauges. Two different polyurethane core thicknesses and two different sandwich lengths were used to simulate short- and long-beam. Two distinct sandwich beams were used by means of two different faces: aluminum and basalt fiber reinforced polymer composite. Full-strain-fields and flexural displacements results were obtained showing that BFRP sandwiches exhibited higher flexibility and higher capacity of absorption energy than the aluminum specimens however with a higher prospect of core shear failure. For both face materials short-beams present higher strains than the long-beams and 4PB test specimens showed negative strain distribution in the upper side of the specimen and positive in the underside contrary to 3PB that presents positive strain distribution along the fulfilled. Moreover, results show that the strain distribution in not symmetric. Obtained experimental results are in good agreement with estimations; the digital image technique attested to be a complementary method to strain gages measurements in experimental full-strain-fields analysis.