Research Projects

Multidirectional C-C composites (3D, 4D) are composite material wherein the reinforcing fibres act as reinforcement at various directions. 4D C-C composites has found successful applications in solid rocket nozzles especially as ITE’s. The material behaviour of nD C-C composites are highly anisotropic and shows nonlinear elastic behaviour. Most of the work carried to assess the behaviour of multidirectional C-C composites is evaluated through destructive testing, hence limited data is generated for the mechanical properties. In this limited work has been carried to theoretically predict the mechanical behaviour of the material and corresponding material properties associated with this class of material. Since at VSSC, nD C-C composites are envisaged to have application as SRM throat inserts and also as TPS material for certain applications, it is planned to initiate the micromechanical model studies to theoretically predict the material behaviour vis-avis the mechanical properties. Scope of work includes development of an elastoplastic finite element model, including homogenised mono-axial stiffness that can predict the material properties as has been referred in literature and, available tested material properties.