PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF FIBER COMPOSITE REINFORCEMENT OF TRUCK FRAME RAILS

The use of graphite fiber/resin matrix composite to effectively reinforce a standard steel truck frame rail is studied. A preliminary design was made and it was determined that the reinforcement weight could be reduced by a factor of 10 when compared to a steel reinforcement. A section of a 1/3 scale reinforced rail was fabricated to demonstrate low cost manufacturing techniques. The scale rail section was then tested and increased stiffness was confirmed. No evidence of composite fatigue was found after 500,000 cycles to a fiber stress of 34,000 psi. The test specimen failed in bending in a static test at a load 50 percent greater than that predicted for a non-reinforced rail. Static deflection, cyclic stress fatigue, and bending test were performed on 1/3 scale steel rail sections reinforced by graphite/resin caps for increased stiffness and buckling load capability; the variables include frame rail design parameters, reinforcement weight, graphite composite thickness, fiber modulus, moment of inertia, load deflection, and crack location and propagation; 6 figures and two tables include numeric data.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Conf-Presented at the Congr. And Exposition Sponsored by the Soc. Of Automotive Engineers, Detroit, 28 Feb. - 4 Mar. 1977.
• Corporate Authors:

  Department of the Navy

  The Pentagon
  Washington, DC  United States  20350
• Authors:
  • Faddoul, J R
• Publication Date: 1977

Media Info

• Pagination: 22 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Carbon fibers; Composite materials; Elastic deformation; Fatigue tests; Fiber reinforced plastics; Fibers; Fracture mechanics; Frames; Graphite; Lightweight materials; Reinforcing materials; Static loads; Steel structures; Stiffness; Stresses; Trucks; Weight
• Uncontrolled Terms: Stress cycles
• Old TRIS Terms: Bending fatigue; Fiber strength; Weight reduction
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Motor Carriers; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00158617
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: NASA-TM-X-73582
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 31 1977 12:00AM