10th International DAAAM Baltic Conference
"INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING -
12-13 May 2015, Tallinn, Estonia
COMPARISON OF NUMERICAL SIMULATION AND
EXPERIMENT OF A FLEXIBLE COMPOSITE
CONNECTING ROD
Sedláček, F.; Lašová, V.; Kottner R. & Bernardin P.
Abstract: The work deals with a
comparison of numerical simulations and
experimental tests of a flexible composite
connecting rod in order to create an
appropriate computational model for
predicting the strength and stiffness. For
the numerical simulation were used finite
element analysis in the software Siemens
NX 10 and SIMULIA Abaqus 6.14.
Experimental specimens with different
geometry were exposed to quasi-static
loading. Zwick/Roell Z050 testing machine
was used for tensile tests.
Key words: flexible, composite connecting
rod, FEM analysis
1. INTRODUCTION
Composite materials have an ever greater
range of applications in industrial practice.
Today, commonly used construction
materials in aviation and aerospace
engineering, are increasingly used in the
automotive and railway industries. One
possible application is in flexible elements,
for which the main factor is strain energy,
which could be simply described by the
equation;
𝜎2
𝑈=
𝜌𝜌
From which clearly follows that the
material with a lower modulus of elasticity
E and density ρ, will have a relatively
higher strain energy U. And the composite
materials fulfil this property excellently
(composite materials have high strength
with low weight compared with
conventional steel, up to 80%). Other
positive properties of composite materials
are water resistance, high fatigue strength,
resistance to corrosion, higher natural
frequency, low friction, etc. However, the
use of composite materials has many
negative aspects, which include in
particular complicated design and difficult
manufacturing, which are mainly caused
by orthotropic (or anisotropic) properties of
the material.
The objective of this work is to design and
verify potential applicability of composite
materials in for example a flexible joint. It
has the task of transferring
tensile/compressive loads as well as
bending and torsion. It is not such a
problem to propose fundamental
(functional) areas for this element, but the
part that is used to connect to subsequent
components and this paper focuses on this
area. It specifically focuses on the
integrated types of joints of glass fibre.
Integrated joints are already addressed in
several papers [4, 5, 6]. However, they are
targeted at the use of carbon fibre joints.
2. EXPERIMENTAL TESTS
A simplified element was created for
possible design verification using
numerical simulations, specifically the
wrapping loops.
E-glass fibres (Aeroglass 2400 TEX) and
epoxy resin (LH298 + hardener H512) as
were chosen the material. The
experimental samples were wound on a
special form in two versions (16pcs with
seven threads a 16pcs with four threads of
the fibreglass).
Experimental tensile tests were carried out
by quasi-static load (0.5 mm/sec) on the
Zwick/Roell Z050 machine. The samples
were attached according to verified
methods [4, 5] where one side eyes were
tightly attached using special jaws and the
other side free fastening was used. The
results can be seen on the charts.

// Fig.3 measured wrapping loops

E-Glass fibre + epoxy resin (H512+LH298)

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

V f [-] 0.73
V m [-] 0.27
E 1 [MPa] 52640
E 2 [MPa] 8576.16
E 3 [MPa] 8576.16
G 12 [MPa] 1986.75
G 23 [MPa] 1986.75
Fig.1 results of the experiment wrapping G 13 [MPa] 3264.20
loops with seven threads of fibres ν 12 [-] 0.295
ν 23 [-] 0.31366
ν 13 [-] 0.295
X T [MPa] 2000
X C [MPa] 1033
Y T [MPa] 315
Y C [MPa] 51
Z T [MPa] 315
Z C [MPa] 51
S or S 12 [MPa] 48
S 13 [MPa] 42
S 23 [MPa] 48
Tab.1 Mechanical properties of tested
composites

3. NUMERICAL SIMULATION

Numerical simulation was performed on

Fig.2 results of the experiment wrapping the three-dimensional model by using finite
loops with four threads of fibres element software Siemens NX 10 (with
solver NX Nastran 10) and SIMULIA
Abaqus 6.14.
3.1. FE model of wrapping loop

The meshes were created by brick elements

CHEXA8 type (C3D8 in Abaqus) with 8
nodes. Subsequently, the elements were
assigned to the appropriate orientation of
material (see Fig. 4). The model was
calculated as a symmetrical solution by
transverse plane (YZ) with appropriate
removal of degrees of freedom. The load
was applied in the form of displacement of
a pin according to the values obtained from
experimental measurements. // Fig.6 stress values in the direction LT´
(loop with seven threads of the fibres)

Subsequently, the failure indexes from

individual components of stresses were
evaluated. Strength criterion 'Maximum
stress' for the first approach was chosen.
According to this theory, failure occurs if
any component of stress has reached the
ultimate strength of the material [7]. Failure
indexes for individual directions of this
strength criterion are listed in Table 2.
Where σ L (σ T , σ T' ) is normal stress in
Fig.4 FE model, including a material
longitudinal (transverse) direction; XT (YT,
orientation of the elements
ZT) is in Longitudinal tensile strength
(transverse) direction; XC (YC, ZC) is
3.2. Results of the numerical simulation
compressive strength in longitudinal
From the results of the individual (transverse) direction; τ LT (τ TT' , τ LT' ) is
components of normal stresses (L, T, T') shear stresses in LT (TT' or LT') plane and
and shear stress (LT, TT', LT') follows that S LT (S TT' , S LT' ) is shear strength in LT (TT'
the most critical is the index 3 (T´) and 6 or LT') plane.
(LT´), see Fig. 5 and 6.
Failure indexes Maximum stress criterion
σ L/XT if σ L > 0
FL
σ L/XC if σ L < 0
σ T /YT if σ T > 0
FT
σ T /YC if σ T < 0
σ T´ /ZT if σ T´ > 0
F T´
σ T´ /ZC if σ T´ < 0
F LT |τ LT / S LT |
F TT´ |τ TT´ /S TT´ |
F LT´ |τ LT´ /S LT´ |
// Fig.5 stress values in the direction T´ Tab.2 Failure indexes of Maximum stress
(loop with seven threads of the fibres) criterion
 the LaRC04 #2 mode (matrix failure, if
𝜎𝑇´ < 0, 𝜎𝐿 ≥ 0):
2
𝜏𝑇
𝐹𝐹𝑀 = � 𝑇 �
𝑆 − 𝜂𝑇 𝜎𝑛 + 𝜎𝐿 𝑃𝑀
2
𝜏𝐿
+� 𝐿 � ≤1
𝑆 − 𝜂 𝐿 𝜎𝑛 + 𝜎𝐿 𝑃𝑀

And parameter P F for LaRC04 #03 mode

(fibre failure, if 𝜎𝐿 > 0):

Fig.7 Failure index in the direction T´ 𝜎𝐿

𝐹𝐹𝐹 = ≤1
(Maximum stress criterion) 𝑋𝑇 + 𝑋 𝑇 𝑃𝐹
𝜎𝑇´ 𝑃𝐹 + 𝑋𝑇
𝑌 𝐶 + 𝑋 𝑇 𝑃𝑀

where τ T and τ L are stresses in the plain of

the failure, S T is the transverse shear
strength and S L is the longitudinal shear
strength and η T and η L are coefficients of
the friction. The failure criterion and the
values of the adjusting parameters P F and
P M were investigated using the comparison
of the experiments and corresponding
numerical simulations including results of
previous works [3, 4, 5].
Fig.8 Failure index in the direction LT´
(Maximum stress criterion)

By using this strength criterion, the results

of FI indexes do not correspond to values
obtained by experimental tests. Therefore
strength criterion LaRC04 (Laminates and
Reinforced Composites/Langley Research
Centre – invented in 2004 [8]) was used.
LaRC04 is an interactive strength criterion
for long fibre unidirectional composites. It
is derived for the three-dimensional stress
state and has incorporated therein
correction for the nonlinear behaviour of
the composite in shear area. For the modes
LaRC04 #02 and LaRC04 #03 this strength
criterion was modified, according to [5, 6].
The modification assumes that the strength
of the matrix at loading pressure in the
direction transverse to the fibre is also
dependent on the tension in the direction of
the fibers σ L . However the stress σ L causes
hardening of the matrix. Further were used Fig.9 Mesh of the FE model with divide of
the adjusting parameters, parameter P M for cross-section
For numerical simulation of the matrix it is
considered that it is already broken (if the
failure of the matrix occurred before the
failure of the fibres according LaRC04 #
2). For each geometry the cross-section
was divided at an angle α in the place
where according LaRC04 #2; FI M = 1 =
FI Mmax . Between the separate parts and
base part the contact of the type "touching"
(without considering the friction) was
defined (see Fig.9).
In the chart (Fig. 10) is possible to see
comparing experimental data with
numerical analysis using a modified
strength criterion LaRC04 (for the most
critical modes LaRC04 #02 and LaRC04
#03) and strength criterion Maximum
stress (for the most critical index – in
direction T´).
Fig.10 comparison of experimental data
with numerical analysis
4. CONCLUSION
By using numerical simulation with the
comparison of the resulting data from the
experimental tests significant mismatch
using the strength criterion 'Maximum
stress' was revealed. Subsequently a
modified strength criterion LaRC04 was
used. By using this strength criterion the
maximum difference of 27% was created
to conformity compared with the
experiments.
These data are the basis for further research
in the area of integrated joints of glass fibre
and we are still working on further
experimental tests that provide more
accurate results for a modified strength
criterion LaRC04.
5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This paper is based upon work sponsored
by project RTI - Regional Technological
Institute reg. no. CZ.1.05/2.1.00/03.0093
and TAČR TA project TE01020075.
6. REFERENCES
[1] Krishan K. Chawla, Composite
materials; Science and Engineering, 3rd
Edition. Springer, New York, 2012.
[2] Laš, V.: Mechanika kompozitních
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Plzeň, 2. vydání, 2008.
[3] Kottner, R., Krystek, J., Zemčík, R.,
Lomberský, J., Hynek, R. Strength
Analysis of Carbon Fiber-reinforced
Plastic Coupling for Tensile and
Compressive Loading Transmission.
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4508
[4] Kottner, R., Bek, L., Krystek, J.,
Kroupa, T., Lašová V. Failure analysis of
pin joint of carbon/epoxy composite plate.
Advanced Materials Research, 2012, roč.
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[5] Krystek, J., Kottner, R., Load capacity
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[6] Kottner R., Spojování kompozitních a
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a pevnosti. Západočeská univerzita v Plzni,
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[7] Vasiliev Valery V., Morozov Evgeny
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[8] Pinho, S. T., Dávila, C. G., Camanho,
P. P., Iannucci, L., Robinson, P., Failure
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7. ADDITIONAL DATA ABOUT
AUTHORS
Ing. František Sedláček*;
Department of Machine Design, Faculty of
Mechanical Engineering, RTI - Regional
Technological Institute, University of West
Bohemia; Univerzitní 8, 306 14, Czech
Republic, fsedlace@kks.zcu.cz
doc. Ing. Václava Lašová, Ph.D.;
Department of Machine Design, Faculty of
Mechanical Engineering, University of
West Bohemia; Univerzitní 8, 306 14,
Czech Republic, lasova@kks.zcu.cz
Ing. Radek Kottner, Ph.D.;
NTIS - New Technologies for the
Information Society; University of West
Bohemia, Univerzitní 8, 306 14, Czech
Republic, kottner@kme.zcu.cz
Ing. Petr Bernardin;
Department of Machine Design, Faculty of
Mechanical Engineering, University of
West Bohemia; Univerzitní 8, 306 14,
Czech Republic, berny@kks.zcu.cz
* Corresponding Author