Masters Theses

Abstract

"Glass is the most commonly used transparent material. However, glass is not suitable where low weight and high strength are required. For many applications there exists a need for mechanically strong composite materials of high optical quality and transparency equivalent to window glass. Glass fiber reinforced transparent composite is a viable solution. Transparency is maintained by precisely matching the refractive index of the matrix with that of the glass fiber. Aircraft canopies and transparent armor can be potential applications for this new class of materials.

In the present work, transparent composites are manufactured using vacuum infusion process. Both rectangular glass ribbons and circular glass fibers are used as reinforcements. The rectangular ribbons scatter less light under any condition, but are more expensive than the circular fibers. A proprietary resin developed at the Missouri S & T is used as the matrix. In vacuum infusion, the glass fiber preform is placed into a one-sided mold and the mold is vacuum sealed with a flexible bag. Resin is then drawn into the mold by vacuum pressure to impregnate the preform. The cured part was tested for optical clarity, tensile and flexural properties, fiber volume fraction, and impact resistance. These tests show that the transparent composites posses good mechanical properties. The experimental results are compared with the finite element solution and are in good agreement"--Abstract, page iii.

Advisor(s)

Chandrashekhara, K.

Committee Member(s)

Dharani, Lokeswarappa R.
Schuman, Thomas P.

Department(s)

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Degree Name

M.S. in Aerospace Engineering

Publisher

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Publication Date

2008

Pagination

viii, 36 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (page 35).

Rights

© 2008 Jason Niles Gallagher, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Manufacturing processes
Strength of materials -- Testing
Glass -- Impact testing

Thesis Number

T 10550

Print OCLC #

903604318

Electronic OCLC #

904023641

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