Testing High Strength Composites

Richard Thompson is presenting a talk titled, “ Hydroburst Testing of Filament Wound Composites” at the Eighth International Conference on Composites Engineering, August 5 –11, 2001. Composite materials, typically made of strong fibers and epoxy, can be both stronger and lighter than metals. These materials are used in applications ranging from tennis rackets, to advanced aircraft, to pressure vessels, to flywheels. Reliable testing methods are needed because variations in manufacturing control can have great influence on material properties. The research team has developed and characterized the performance of a test facility that provides uniform hoop loading. This uniform loading can be used stress the material to a well-controlled and well-instrumented failure to determine the material strength. The presentation reviews the design and performance of that facility. For further information contact r.thompson@mail.utexas.edu

Ted Aanstoos Selected ASME Fellow 2001

Ted Aanstoos, a research engineer at the Center for Electromechanics has been selected to be a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineer (ASME). He was selected, in part, for his contributions to flywheel energy storage, to teaching mechanical engineering students and to the activities of the ASME.

Ted was recently recognized by the University of Texas at Austin for his 25 years of service to the University for his work at the Center for Electromechanics.

New Suspension Gives Better Performance and Fuel Economy

Field tests have shown that a novel electromagnetic suspension system improves off road performance of vehicles. Tests have found five specific improvements compared to existing suspension systems composed of shock absorbers and springs:

• Ride quality is improved by a factor of 5 to 10 depending on terrain
• Top speed is as much as doubled
• Evasive handling performance is as good or better than that of a passive suspension on both slalom and double lane change maneuvers,
• Rollover resistance is improved by lowering the vehicle’s center of gravity during evasive maneuvers
• Fuel economy is improved by reducing rolling resistance

The active suspension system was designed and built by a team at the Center for Electromechanics at the University of Texas at Austin under the leadership of Dr. Joe Beno. The suspension was installed on one of the Army’s High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV). The testing was performed on Army test tracks using the Army’s test drivers. The U.S. Army Tank and Automotive Command sponsored the work. A report summarizing the operation and testing of the suspension system was submitted to the Army in late July.

For a copy of the summary of the report or further information on the vehicle suspension program, please contact Dr. Joe Beno.