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University of New Orleans

Fatigue Microcracking of Composite Material IM7/977-2

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The application of an ultralight linerless composite fuel tank to a man-rated, reusable launch vehicle requires greater understanding of the micro-fracture behavior which can lead to propellant permeation through the tank wall. Transverse matrix cracks in unidirectional wound, or placed, plies can provide a path for permeation of pressurized fluid if the cracks interlink from the interior to the exterior of the tank wall. Following research on an energy based fracture mechanics approach to composite microcracking, experiments in fatigue were run on IM7/977-2 cross-ply laminates. Using a modified Paris Law approach, microcracking fatigue data is presented over a wide range of applied cyclic stresses. This Paris Law plot shows an "A" value of 6.40x10-25 and a "B" value of 8.07 and provides a complete characterization of composite IM7/977-2 material's resistance to microcrack formation during fatigue loading.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
M.S.
Level thesis:degree_level
Thesis
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Mechanical Engineering
Year
2007

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Holt, Michael Dana
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Verges, Melody
  • Herrington, Paul
  • Schilling, Paul

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/1071
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:scholarworks.uno.edu:td-2052

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of New Orleans
Base URL
scholarworks.uno.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
related terms
citation

Holt, Michael Dana. Fatigue Microcracking of Composite Material IM7/977-2. Thesis thesis, 2007. https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/1071