Graphene Reinforced Adhesives for Improved Joint Characteristics in Large Diameter Composite Piping

• Author / Creator

  Parashar, Avinash

• Higher specific properties and corrosion resistance of fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) pipes make them a potential candidate for replacing metallic piping structures. This research project is concerned with adhesively bonded FRP pipe sections. The project can broadly be classified into three phases. In the first phase the effects of dimensional scaling as well as fibre architecture on adhesive bonding strength were studied. A macro analysis of adhesively bonded FRP pipe sections was conducted employing a finite element approach in conjunction with strength of materials and fracture mechanics damage criteria. Through this phase of the project the most damage-prone components within adhesively bonded FRP pipe sections were identified. The second phase of the research project was designed to investigate a suitable nanofiller material for the reinforcement of the weakest joint component, i.e. the adhesive bondline. Due to its superior mechanical properties and relatively low cost, graphene was considered as the nanofiller. Phase two of the project was further extended to include a novel modelling technique for characterizing graphene at the atomistic level. The third and final phase of the project dealt with the overall impact of graphene nanofiller on the adhesive material. A multiscale model was developed to investigate fracture toughening and stability effects with the aim of producing a nanocomposite with improved mechanical properties.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Composite Piping
  • Adhesive bonding
  • Multiscale Modeling
  • Finite-element-analysis
  • Atomistic Modeling

• Graduation date

  Spring 2013

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Doctor of Philosophy

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3BX3D

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.