Light Composites Database
The goal of the LCD tests is to create a composite materials database to help experimenters, entrepreneurs and "garagistas" better engineer their creations. Although databases of composite materials exist, they are either proprietary and unavailable to the general public, or use materials/methods not easily accessible outside industry or inapplicable to rapid prototyping.
These tests will mostly focus on vacuum-bagged wet layup composites (ie, not autoclaved/prepregged) using readily available fabrics, resins, and adhesives. The proposed test series is listed below. Please feel free to comment or suggest additional tests. We hope to model this testing on the Low Speed Airfoil Tests conducted by Dr. Michael Selig at UIUC some years ago; that is, anyone may submit coupons for testing (assuming they meet ASTM test criteria), and you will have the satisfaction of seeing how your composite handiwork performs as well as your name listed as the coupon fabricator for those tests. There is no charge for coupon tests which can be incorporated into the test series. (For those interested in testing not covered by the RPED/LCD series or for proprietary/commercial testing, please contact me at [email protected])
All tests will be performed on a TestResources 313Q Universal Testing Machine with calibrated 50kN/5kN load cells using ASTM compliant coupons and fixtures.
The goal of the LCD tests is to create a composite materials database to help experimenters, entrepreneurs and "garagistas" better engineer their creations. Although databases of composite materials exist, they are either proprietary and unavailable to the general public, or use materials/methods not easily accessible outside industry or inapplicable to rapid prototyping.
These tests will mostly focus on vacuum-bagged wet layup composites (ie, not autoclaved/prepregged) using readily available fabrics, resins, and adhesives. The proposed test series is listed below. Please feel free to comment or suggest additional tests. We hope to model this testing on the Low Speed Airfoil Tests conducted by Dr. Michael Selig at UIUC some years ago; that is, anyone may submit coupons for testing (assuming they meet ASTM test criteria), and you will have the satisfaction of seeing how your composite handiwork performs as well as your name listed as the coupon fabricator for those tests. There is no charge for coupon tests which can be incorporated into the test series. (For those interested in testing not covered by the RPED/LCD series or for proprietary/commercial testing, please contact me at [email protected])
All tests will be performed on a TestResources 313Q Universal Testing Machine with calibrated 50kN/5kN load cells using ASTM compliant coupons and fixtures.