Research Overview 2011
Studies of Strength and Fracture of Materials New assessment criteria of strength and fracture of composites have been created at the Centre of Strength and Fracture Mechanics of Kaunas University of Technology and have been proved experimentally, applied in industry and approved in worldwide magazines’ Web Science databases. This gives hope that composites will be created and applied more efficiently. [A. Žiliukas. Strength Criterion of undirectional Composite. Indian Journal of Engineering and Materials Sciences. Vol. 13. December 2006. p.p. 520-524, N. Keršienė, A. Žiliukas, A. Keršys. Influence of ply orientation on mode I interlaminar fracture toughness of woven carbon and glass composites. Mechanika. Kaunas. Technologija. 2010. nr.2 (82), p. 3136, A. Žiliukas, A. Surantas. Determination of residual welding stress in load bearing structures mode of welded hollow sections. The Baltic Journal of Road and Bridge Engineering. Vilnius. Technika. 2010. Vol.5. p. 55-61] The main directions of scientific activities are: studies of new materials and problems
of strength and fracture of innovative structures made from them. Strength and fracture criteria have been developed at the Centre of Strength and Fracture Mechanics and have been improved when a structure is affected by a multiple stress state in a three-dimensional space. This is not common in science as more studies have been performed to define the bearing capacity of materials in one-dimensional or two-dimensional space. Solution of three-dimensional problems is particularly important for anisotropic materials. The gained strength and fracture criteria have enabled to assess properties of materials when they are loaded in various directions, and to estimate structures when they are under total actual load. Such estimations have been applied while designing the new structures in Lithuanian factories JSC “Traidenis”, “August and Ko”, “Hydrologija” and etc. In the projects produced are of various sizes and are used for storing overground and underground wastewater.
There are lots of composites used in medicine, odontology, traumatology, orthopedics and etc. Composite materials are mainly used for reconstructions so they must be strong and durable. The new area of researchness is pointed on composite materials and structures used in odontology. New researches of composite materials used for tooth restoration as well as structures of prosthesis with implants have been initiated at the CSFM in cooperation with Department of Maxillofacial Surgery.
Perspectives On the grounds of scientific studies carried out while analyzing composite structures in pursue to estimate the most rational strength, fracture and stability parameters it is expedient to extend engineering research. Composite materials and structures are very promising for manufacturing of light structures and their use for the safety of important buildings, for example, for building of storages of hydrogen fuel. Composites can be used to make high pressure vessels characterized by great bearing capacity. Therefore, designing and exploitation of high pressure vessels is one of the most important fields of application of composite materials. This can be achieved by using and combining layers of different composites made of various materials. The new research area on odontological materials and systems would give more information and possibilities for odontologist to restore tooth and to implant.
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Kaunas University of Technology