Modal analysis of rudder made of glass fiber and epoxy composite material

Rudder
A rudder is a device used to steer a aircraft or other conveyance that moves through a medium (generally air or water). On an aircraft the rudder is used primarily to counter adverse yaw and p-factor and is not the primary control used to turn the airplane. A rudder operates by redirecting the fluid past the hull or fuselage, thus imparting a turning or yawing motion to the craft. In basic form, a rudder is a flat plane or sheet of material attached with hinges to the craft's stern, tail or after end. Often rudders are shaped so as to minimize hydrodynamic or aerodynamic drag.

Structural composites
A composite is a structural material that consists of two or more combined constituents that are combined at a macroscopic level and are not soluble in each other. There are three phases in a composite: >Reinforcement >Matrix >Inter phase

Advantages of composites
Higher specific strength (strength to weight ratio) Composites have a higher specific strength than many other materials. Design flexibility Composites have an advantage over other materials because they can be molded into complex shapes at relatively low cost. Corrosion Resistance Composites products provide long-term resistance to severe chemical and temperature environments. Low Relative Investment One reason the composites industry has been successful is because of the low relative investment in setting-up a composites manufacturing facility.. Durability Composite products and structures have an exceedingly long life span. Coupled with low maintenance requirements, the longevity of composites is a benefit in critical applications.

Types of Composite Materials

There are five basic types of composite materials: Fiber, particle, flake, laminar or layered and filled composites.

Fiber Composites
In fiber composites, the fibers reinforce along the line of their length.Reinforcement may be mainly 1-D, 2-D or 3-D. Figure shows the threebasic types of fiber orientation.

1-D gives maximum strength in one direction. 2-D gives strength in two directions.

Isotropic gives strength equally in all directions.

Types of Fibers
The fibers are divided into two main groups: Glass fibers: There are many different kinds of glass, ranging from ordinary bottle glass to high purity quartz glass. All of these glasses can be made into fibers. Each offers its own set of properties. Advanced fibers: These materials offer high strength and high stiffness at low weight. Boron, silicon, carbide and graphite fibers are in this category. So are the aramids, a group of plastic fibers of the polyamide (nylon) family.

Fibers - Glass
Most widely used fiber Uses: piping, tanks, boats, sporting goods Advantages Low cost Corrosion resistance Low cost relative to other composites: Disadvantages Relatively low strength High elongation Moderate strength and weight Types: E-Glass - electrical, cheaper S-Glass - high strength

Fiber Material Properties

Fiber Strength

Epoxy Epoxies have improved strength and stiffness properties over polyesters. Epoxies offer excellent corrosion resistance and resistance to solvents and alkalis. Cure cycles are usually longer than polyesters, however no by-products are produced. Flexibility and improved performance is also achieved by the utilization of additives and fillers.

Properties of glass epoxy

An individual structural glass fiber is both stiff and strong in tension and compressionthat is, along its axis. Although it might be assumed that the fiber is weak in compression, it is actually only the long aspect ratio of the fiber which makes it seem so; i.e., because a typical fiber is long and narrow, it buckles easily. On the other hand, the glass fiber is weak in shearthat is, across its axis. Therefore if a collection of fibers can be arranged permanently in a preferred direction within a material, and if the fibers can be prevented from buckling in compression, then that material will become preferentially strong in that direction. Furthermore, by laying multiple layers of fiber on top of one another, with each layer oriented in various preferred directions, the stiffness and strength properties of the overall material can be controlled in an efficient manner. In the case of fiberglass, it is the plastic matrix which permanently constrains the structural glass fibers to directions chosen by the designer. With chopped strand mat, this directionality is essentially an entire two dimensional plane; with woven fabrics or unidirectional layers, directionality of stiffness and strength can be more precisely controlled within the plane.

Properties of Glass-Epoxy
MATERIAL Specific Gravity Tensile Strength (Mpa)

E-Glass Epoxy composite

1.99

1,770

S-Glass Epoxy Composite

1.95

2,358

Progress left
Using FEM(finite element method) analysis different types of modes that are acting are t o be analysed As glass fiber is cost effective so we try out to find different orientation of glass fiber and orientation which is suitable for appropriate modal behaviour