Education

Specialization: Multifunctional Composites and Additive Manufacturing

Laboratory: Non Linear Multifunctional Composites Analysis and Design (NMCAD)

Institute: Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore

Mentor: Dr. Dineshkumar Harursampath

Period: 2020-Till Date

Specialization: Materials (Composite Materials)

Thesis Title: Performance Evaluation of Flexible Jute-Natural Rubber Composites for Impact Behaviour

Supervisors: Dr. Sharnappa Joladarashi and Dr. S M Kulkarni

Institute: Dept. of Mechanical Engg., National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal (NITK)

Year of Award: 2020

Abstract: A composite material is made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties which are combined to produce a material with characteristics different from the individual components. Flexible composites‘ is a term coined to identify the composites making use of elastomeric polymers as matrix. These flexible composites exhibit usable range of deformations which are much larger than conventional stiff composites. The ability of flexible composites to undergo larger deformation and still provide high load carrying ability makes them suitable for many engineering applications. Flexible composites are better energy absorbers compared to conventional stiff composites subjected to impact loading. The objectives and scope of the present study includes proposing, developing and characterizing the flexible green‘ composite for impact applications. An extensive literature review was carried out to explore the potential constituent materials for impact applications and accordingly the present study is carried out to explore the possible use of jute and rubber for impact applications. Initially, the feasibility of using natural rubber (NR) as a constituent material in composite is studied using commercially available finite element (FE) package. Further different stacking sequences of the flexible green sandwich composite are optimized and the three stacking sequences are selected for experimental study. These three optimized stacking sequences of the proposed flexible green sandwich composite are prepared using compression moulding technique and are characterized for their physical and mechanical properties. Further, the proposed flexible green composites are studied for their abrasive behaviour under two body environments and erosive behaviour under slurry environment. Finally, the impact behaviour of the proposed flexible composites is studied under low velocity impact (LVI) and lower ballistic impact. The proposed flexible green composite can be a potential material for sacrificial structures in order to protect the primary structural components.

KEYWORDS: Flexible composite; Natural rubber; Jute; Impact; Two body abrasion; Slurry erosion; Design of experiments; Multi attribute decision making.

Specialization: Product Design and Manufacturing.

Institute: The National Institute of Engineering, Mysore

Year of Award of Degree: 2011

Department: Mechanical Engineering

Institute: Siddaganga Institute of Technology, Tumkur

Year of Graduation: 2007