Title: Composites as a Substitute for Steel Boom Arms in Agriculture Applications

Authors: Alessandro Rengan, Charles Chirume, Ayanna Russell

DOI: 10.33599/nasampe/s.21.0465

Abstract: This work was conducted as a senior design project. The initial objective was to develop and characterize an advanced composite tube that can be used as an alternate to steel in agriculture applications, specifically to replace steel arms in sprayer booms. Carbon prepreg specimens and fiberglass prepreg specimens were prepared using an out-of-autoclave technique. Impact testing and flexural testing were performed on sample specimens. Impact testing on Carbon prepreg gave a median energy absorbed of 335 KJ/m2. Flexural testing on Carbon prepreg gave a median flexural strength of 517 MPa. It was not possible to test the fiber glass prepreg samples due to the pandemic shutting down the university. Impact testing data and Flexural testing data fit the Weibull distribution, giving a Weibull parameter of 2.2 and 5.9 respectively. Survivability of 90 %, 75 % and 50 %were derived from the Weibull analysis. A composite tube was made as a laboratory demonstration. In conclusion it has been shown from previous work that polymer matrix composites could replace steel in terms of its specific impact absorption and specific flexural strength, and, in this work that Weibull analysis can predict failure properties.

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Conference: SAMPE NEXUS 2021

Publication Date: 2021/06/29

SKU: TP21-0000000465

Pages: 11

Price: FREE