A finite-element based method is developed to predict gas permeability in cross-ply laminates. Based on Poiseuille's Law and Darcy's Law, the gas permeability is presented in terms of crack densities, microcrack opening displacements and an experimentally determined constant. The crack densities in each ply are predicted using finite element analysis based on energy concept of micro-fracture mechanics. The microcrack opening displacement of the representative volume element in cross-ply laminate is computed using three-dimensional finite element analysis. The normalized gas permeability in three laminates with different lay-ups are predicted and compared using the current model. Finally, a permeability-related material constant is quantified using the experimental results available in the literature.
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2.
Kumazawa, H. , Aoki, T. and Susuki, I. (2003). Analysis and Experiment of Gas Leakage through Composite Laminates for Propellant Tanks, AIAA Journal, 41(10): 2037-2044.
3.
Kumazawa, H. , Susuki, I. and Aoki, T. (2006). Gas Leakage Evaluation of CFRP Cross-ply Laminates under Biaxial Loadings , Journal of Composite Materials, 40(10): 853-871.
4.
Kumazawa, H. , Hayashi, H., Susuki , I. and Utsunomiya, T. (2006). Damage and Permeability Evolution in CFRP Cross-Ply Laminates, Composite Structures , 76(1): 73-81.
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Aoki, T., Kumazawa, H. and Susuki, I. (2002). Propellant Leakage through Laminated Structures , In: Proceedings of the l7th Annual Technical Conference of the American Society for Composites (ASC), pp. 63-70, West Lafayette, IN.
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Peddiraju, P., Grenoble, R., Fried, K., Gates, T. and Lagoudas, D.C. (2005). Analytical Predictions and Experimental Measurements of Hydrogen Permeability in a Microcrack Damaged Composites, In: Proceeding of 46th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference, pp. 18-21, AIAA 2005-2087, Austin, TX.
7.
Grenoble, R.W. and Gates, T.S. (2005). Hydrogen Permeability of Polymer Matrix Composites at Cryogenic Temperatures, In: Proceeding of 46th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference , pp. 18-21, AIAA 2005-2086, Austin, TX.
8.
Bechel, V.T. and Arnold, F. (2006). Permeability of Polymer Composites for Cryogenic Applications, In: Proceeding of 47th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference, pp. 1-4, AIAA 2006-2015, Newport, RI.
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Choi, S. and Sankar, B.V. (2008). Gas Permeability of Various Graphite/Epoxy Composite Laminates for Cryogenic Storage Systems, Composites Part B: Engineering, doi:10.1016/ j.compositesb.2007.10.010.
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Peddiraju, P., Noh, J., Whitcomb , J. and Lagoudas, D.C. (2007). Prediction of Cryogen Leak Rate through Damaged Composite Laminates, Journal of Composite Materials, 41(1): 41-71.
11.
Noh, J., Whitcomb, J., Peddiraju, P. and Lagoudas, D. (2004). Prediction of Leakage Rate through Damage Network in Cryogenic Composite Laminates, In: Proceeding of 45th AIAA/ ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference, pp. 19-22, AIAA 2004-1861, Palm Springs, CA.
12.
Peddiraju, P. , Lagoudas, D., Noh , J. and Whitcomb, J. (2004). Numerical Modeling of Cryogen Leakage through Composite Laminates, In: Proceeding of 45th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference, pp. 19-22, AIAA 2004-1862, Palm Springs, CA.
13.
Roy, S. and Benjamin, M. (2004). Modeling of Permeation and Damage in Graphite-epoxy Laminates for Cryogenic Fuel Storage , Composites Science and Technology, 64(13): 2051-2065.
14.
Roy, S. and Nair, A. (2006). Modeling of Permeability in Composite Laminates with Delaminations and Stitch Cracks, In: Proceeding of 47th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference, AIAA-2006-2094, May 1-4, Newport, RI.
15.
Xu, J.L. and Sankar, B.V. (2007). Parametric Investigation of Gas Permeability in Cross-ply Laminates using Finite Elements, AIAA Journal, 45(4): 934-941.
16.
McManus, H.L., Faust, A. and Uebelhart, S. (2001). Gas Permeability of Thermally Cycled Graphite-epoxy Composites, American Society for Composites, Blacksburg, VA, Paper 092, Sept. 9-12.
17.
Nairn, J.A. (2000). Matrix Microcracking in Composites, In: Talreja, R. and Manson, J.-A.Polymer Matrix Composites, Volume 2 of Comprehensive Composite Materials, Chapter 13, Elsevier Science.
18.
Bapanapalli, S.K., Sankar, B.V. and Primas, R.J. (2006). Microcracking in Cross-ply Laminates due to Biaxial Mechanical and Thermal Loading, AIAA Journal, 44(12): 2949-2957.
19.
Nairn, J.A., Hu, S.F. and Bark, J.S. (1993). A Critical Evaluation of Theories for Predicting Microcracking in Composite Laminates, Journal of Materials Science, 28(18): 5099-5111.
