• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.43-48
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• 2001

To overcome the disadvantages of conventional excavation technology, various trenchless (or excavation free, or no-dig) repair-reinforcement technologies have been developed and tried. But trenchless technologies so fat developed have some brawbacks such as high cost and inconvenience of operation. In this study, a repairing-reinforcing process for underground pipes with glass fiber fabric polymer composites using VARTM(Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding) has been developed. The developed process requires shorter operation time and lower cost with smaller and simpler operating equipments than those of the conventional trenchless technologies. For the reliable operation of the developed method, a simple method to apply pressure and vacuum to the reinforcement was devised and flexible mold technology was tried. Also, resin filling and cure status during RTM process were monitored with a commercial dielectrometry cure monitoring system, LACOMCURE. From the investigation, it has been found that the developed repairing-reinforcing technology with appropriate process variables and on-line cure monitoring has many advantages over conventional methods.

• Composites Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.155-161
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• 2015

A composite structure was fabricated with embedded impact detection capabilities for applications in Structural Health Monitoring (SHM). By embedding sensor functionality in the composite, the structure can successfully perform impact localization in real time. Smart resin, composed of $Pb(Ni_{1/3}Nb_{2/3})O_3-Pb(Zr,\;Ti)O_2$ (PNN-PZT) powder and epoxy resin with 1:30 wt%, was used instead of conventional epoxy resin in order to activate the sensor function in the composite structure. The embedded impact sensor in the composite was fabricated using Hand Lay-up and Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding(VARTM) methods to inject the smart resin into the glass-fiber fabric. The electrodes were fabricated using silver paste on both the upper and bottom sides of the specimen, then poling treatment was conducted to activate the sensor function using a high voltage amplifier at 4 kV/mm for 30 min at room temperature. The composite's piezoelectric sensitivity was measured to be 35.13 mV/N by comparing the impact force signals from an impact hammer with the corresponding output voltage from the sensor. Because impact sensor functionality was successfully embedded in the composite structure, various applications of this technique in the SHM industry are anticipated. In particular, impact localization on large-scale composite structures with complex geometries is feasible using this composite embedded impact sensor.

• Composites Research
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.249-257
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• 2019

In this paper, the buckling behavior of triaxially braided circular arch with monosymmetric open section subjected to three-point bending was studied experimentally and numerically. First, test specimens were manufactured using vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM). Then the specimen was tested under three-point bending to determine the ultimate buckling strength. Before performing the numerical analysis, effective material properties of the braided composite were obtained through micro-meso scale analysis virtual testing validated with available test results. Then linear buckling analysis and geometrically non-linear post buckling analysis, established to simulate the test setup, were performed to study the buckling behavior of the composite frame. Analysis results were compared with experimentally obtained ones for verification. The effect of manufacturing defects of tow misalignment, irregular surface and resin rich region, and uncertainties during test setup were studied using numerical models. From the numerical analyses performed it was observed that both manufacturing defect and uncertainties had effect on the buckling behavior and strength.

• Advanced Composite Materials
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.125-137
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• 2008

FBG (Fiber Bragg Grating) sensors and optical fibers were embedded into CFRP dry preforms before resin impregnation in VaRTM (Vacuum-assisted Resin Transfer Molding). The embedding location was the interface between the skin and the stringer in a CFRP-stiffened panel. The reflection spectra of the FBG sensors monitored the strain and temperature changes during all the molding processes. The internal residual strains of the CFRP panel could be evaluated during both the curing time and the post-curing time. The temperature changes indicated the differences between the dry preform and the outside of the vacuum bagging. After the molding, four-point bending was applied to the panel for the verification of its structural integrity and the sensor capabilities. The optical fibers were then used for the newly-developed PPP-BOTDA (Pulse-PrePump Brillouin Optical Time Domain Analysis) system. The long-range distributed strain and temperature can be measured by this system, whose spatial resolution is 100 mm. The strain changes from the FBGs and the PPP-BOTDA agreed well with those from the conventional strain gages and FE analysis in the CFRP panel. Therefore, the fiber-optic sensors and its system were very effective for the evaluation of the VaRTM composite structures.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.43 no.10 s.293
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• pp.607-612
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• 2006

In VARTM (Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding) process, the permeability generally controls the filling time of the resin and it also affects the void characteristics of the fiber composite. In this study, carbon and glass fiber inter-layered hybrid composites (carbon fiber centered stack) with an epoxy matrix were fabricated by VARTM process and evaluated the resin flow and macro void characteristics. The permeability of glass fiber was higher than that of carbon fiber used in this study. Using Darcy's equation, the permeability of hybrid composites could be predicted and experimentally confirmed. After curing, the macro void content of hybrid composites was investigated using image analyzer. The calculated filling time was well agreed with experimental result and the void content was significantly changed in hybrid composites.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2006.04a
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• pp.15-20
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• 2006

Real time health monitoring system was studied to detect the . generation of defects in the composite structures during service life. The PZT sensors were embedded into the woven-glass/phenol composite plate during the fabrication. VARTM (Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding) process were used to fabricate the composite plate. A Teflon tape was embedded between glass fiber layers to mimic delamination induced during service. Normalized maximum amplitude and energy analyses were used for the acquired signals. Both amplitude and energy of acquired signals were extremely sensitive to the delamination. Therefore, it was successful to detect and to locate the defects in composite plate by monitoring signals from sensors and using the proposed method.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.378-381
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• 2007

탄소섬유가 중앙에 적층된 풍력발전용 블레이드 소재인 탄소 유리섬유 하이브리드 복합재료가 VARTM(Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding)공법을 이용하여 제작되었다. 아이조드 충격시험법을 이용하여 온도, 하이브리드화 비율 그리고 노치에 대한 충격강도의 영향을 연구하였다. 온도 감소 및 탄소섬유의 증가에 의해 충격강도는 감소하는 경향을 보였으며, 노치에 의해 하이브리드 복합재료는 약 $25{\sim}30$%가량의 충격강도 감소를 보였다. 그러나 단일 탄소섬유 복합재료의 경우 노치민감도는 없었으며, 이에 소량의 유리섬유 첨가로 인해 하이브리드화 하였을 경우 충격강도 향상 및 저온 충격강도 안정성을 확보 할 수 있었다.

• Composites Research
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.165-169
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• 2013

This work presents the tensile properties and water uptake behavior of plasma treated abaca fibers reinforced epoxy composites. The composites were prepared by vacuum assisted resin transfer molding. The effects of treatment on tensile properties and sorption characteristics of abaca fiber composites in distilled water and salt solution at room temperature were investigated. The tensile strength of the composites increased with plasma treatment. With plasma treatment, an improvement of 92.9% was obtained in 2.5 min exposure time in plasma. This is attributed to high fiber-matrix compatibility. Less improvement on tensile properties of hybrid treatment of sodium hydroxide and plasma was obtained. However, both treatments reduced overall water uptake in distilled water and salt solution. Hydrophilicity of the fibers decreased upon plasma and sodium hydroxide treatment, which decreases water uptake.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.93-99
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• 2012

The mechanical properties of nano composites were evaluated for structural performance in order to enhance their applicability to the car and machine industrial fields. Carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) and GFRP were manufactured by vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process with good mechanical properties. Tensile test was conducted to obtain the process factor of each composite. Also, carbon nano fiber (CNF) was dispersed in the composites and the relationship between the mechanical property and the CNF fraction was compared. The tensile strength and stiffness of 0/90 laminated CFRP were the best. CFRP/CNF (0.5 wt.%) was confirmed to be an excellent material for its elasticity and tensile strength.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.49 no.10
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• pp.760-765
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• 2011

This paper presents a study of the tensile behavior of carbon and glass fiber reinforced epoxy hybrid laminates manufactured by vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM). The objective of this study was to develop and characterize carbon fiber reinforced plastic hybrid composite material that is low cost and light-weight and that possesses adequate strength and stiffness. The effect of position and content of the glass fabric layer on the tensile properties of the hybrid laminates was examined. The strength and stiffness of the hybrid laminates showed a steady decrease with an increase of the glass fabric content this decrease was almost linear. Fracture strain of these laminates showed a slight increasing trend when glass fabric content was increased up to 3 layers, but at a glass fabric content > 3 layers the strain was almost constant. When glass fabric layers were at both outer surfaces, the hybrid laminate exhibited a slightly higher tensile strength and elastic modulus due to the small amount of glass yarn pull-out.