Journal of Engineering and Development, Vol. 17, No.

5, November 2013 , ISSN 1813- 7822

Experimental Determination Of Elastic Constant Of

Composite Materials Using Vibration Properties

Lecturer Dr. Hameed Dwech Lafta

Production and Metallurgy Engineering Department
Slemani Technical College
Slemani Polytechnic University
Iraq- Slemani
hameng2010@yahoo.com

Abstract :
In this study, a correlation between an approximate analysis of beam vibration
problem and experimental measurements of vibration property was a achieved in an
attempt to develop a simple and reliable experimental method for determining the elastic
constant of materials as a non-destructive test.
The analytical solution was based on Euler and Rayleigh beam models with simply
supported boundary conditions, and the experimental work was based on the Dunkerly's
approach. A development of an existing test setup was done to be more suitable for beam
specimen of composite materials.
The present experimental measurements of the elastic constant were compared with
published results and it is found that the proposed experimental work is provided an
acceptable and reliable measurements.
The comparisons indicate errors in the measurements that are ranging between
(3.1-12.7) % based on Euler model and (0.87-4.6) % based on Rayleigh model.
Finally, a numerical solution of the problem based on the feedback of the present
experimental results was developed using a computer package program called ANSYS.
The numerical results reflected that the proposed experimental scheme is a simple,
reliable and accurate one.

‫اﻟﺣﺳﺎب اﻟﻌﻣﻠﻲ ﻟﻣﻌﺎﻣل ﻣروﻧﺔ اﻟﻣواد اﻟﻣرﻛﺑﺔ ﺑﺎﺳﺗﺧدام ﺧواص اﻻھﺗزازات‬

‫ﺣﻤﯿﺪ دوﯾﺞ ﻟﻔﺘﺔ‬.‫ﻣﺪرس د‬
‫ﻗﺴﻢ ھﻨﺪﺳﺔ اﻹﻧﺘﺎج واﻟﻤﻌﺎدن‬
-‫اﻟﺴﻠﯿﻤﺎﻧﯿﺔ اﻟﻜﻠﯿﺔ اﻟﺘﻘﻨﯿﺔ‬
– ‫اﻟﺴﻠﯿﻤﺎﻧﯿﺔ ﺟﺎﻣﻌﺔ ﺑﻮﻟﯿﺘﻜﻨﯿﻚ‬

: ‫اﻟﺧﻼﺻﺔ‬
‫ﻓﻲ ھﺬا اﻟﺒﺤﺚ ﺗﻢ إﯾﺠﺎد طﺮﯾﻘﺔ ﺗﻮاﻓﻘﯿﺔ ﺑﯿﻦ اﻟﺘﺤﻠﯿﻞ اﻟﻨﻈﺮي اﻟﺘﻘﺮﯾﺒﻲ واﻟﻘﯿﺎس اﻟﻌﻤﻠﻲ ﻟﺨﻮاص اﻻھﺘﺰازات ﻟﻐﺮض‬
‫اﯾﺠﺎد طﺮﯾﻘﺔ ﻋﻤﻠﯿﺔ ﻣﺒﺴﻄﺔ وﻣﻌﺘﻤﺪة ﻟﻐﺮض ﺣﺴﺎب ﻣﻌﺎﻣﻞ ﻣﺮوﻧﺔ اﻟﻤﻮاد اﻟﻤﺮﻛﺒﺔ ﻛﺈﺣﺪى اﻟﻄﺮق اﻟﺘﻲ ﺗﺴﻤﻰ ﺑﺎﻻﺧﺘﺒﺎر‬
.‫اﻟﻼاﺗﻼﻓﻲ‬

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Journal of Engineering and Development, Vol. 17, No.5, November 2013 , ISSN 1813- 7822

‫ﺗﻢ اﻋﺘﻤﺎد طﺮﯾﻘﺘﻲ اوﯾﻠﺮ وراﯾﻠﻲ ﻻﺷﺘﻘﺎق ﻣﻌﺎدﻻت اﻻھﺘﺰاز اﻟﻄﻮﻟﻲ ﻟﻌﯿﻨﺔ ﻋﺘﺒﺔ ﻣﺜﺒﺘﺔ ﺑﻄﺮﯾﻘﺔ اﻟﺘﻌﻠﯿﻖ اﻟﺤﺮ‬
.‫ ﺗﻢ ﺗﻄﻮﯾﺮ اﻟﺠﮭﺎز أﻟﻤﺨﺘﺒﺮي ﻟﯿﻜﻮن أﻛﺜﺮ ﻣﻼﺋﻤﺔ ﻟﻌﯿﻨﺎت اﻟﻤﻮاد اﻟﻤﺮﻛﺒﺔ‬.‫واﻋﺘﻤﺎد طﺮﯾﻘﺔ دﻧﻜﻠﺮﯾﺰ ﻟﺤﺴﺎﺑﺎت اﻟﺠﺎﻧﺐ اﻟﻌﻤﻠﻲ‬
%( 12.7-3.1) ‫وﻗﺪ أوﺿﺤﺖ اﻟﻨﺘﺎﺋﺞ وﺟﻮد ﺗﻄﺎﺑﻖ ﻓﻲ اﻟﻘﯿﺎس اﻟﻨﻈﺮي واﻟﻌﻤﻠﻲ ﻟﻠﻌﯿﻨﺎت وﺑﻨﺴﺒﺔ ﺧﻄﺎء ﺗﺘﺮاوح ﺑﯿﻦ‬
.‫ ﺑﺎﻋﺘﻤﺎد طﺮﯾﻘﺔ راﯾﻠﻲ‬%( 4.6-0.87) ‫ﺑﺎﻋﺘﻤﺎد طﺮﯾﻖ اوﯾﻠﺮ و‬
(ANSYS) ‫ﺗﻢ اﺳﺘﺨﺪام اﻟﻨﺘﺎﺋﺞ ﻣﻦ اﻟﻄﺮﯾﻘﺔ أﻋﻼه ﻛﺒﯿﺎﻧﺎت ﻟﺒﺮﻧﺎﻣﺞ ﺗﻢ أﻋﺪاه ﺑﺎﺳﺘﺨﺪام ﺑﺮﻧﺎﻣﺞ ﺣﺎﺳﻮﺑﻲ ﯾﺴﻤﻰ‬
‫ﻟﻐﺮض اﻟﺘﺤﻘﻖ واﻟﻤﻘﺎرﻧﺔ ﻣﻦ ﻧﺠﺎح اﻟﻄﺮﯾﻘﺔ اﻟﻤﻘﺘﺮﺣﺔ واﻟﺘﻲ أﻛﺪت اﻟﻨﺘﺎﺋﺞ ﻋﻠﻰ أﻧﮭﺎ طﺮﯾﻘﺔ ﻣﺒﺴﻄﺔ وﻣﻌﺘﻤﺪة ﻟﺤﺴﺎب‬
.‫ﻣﻌﺎﻣﻞ ﻣﺮوﻧﺔ اﻟﻤﻮاد اﻟﻤﺮﻛﺒﺔ‬

Symbol Meaning
A* cross-sectional area (m2)
a2 wave number
ERAY elastic constants using Rayleigh models
EEUL elastic constants using Euler-Bernoulli models
I* beam second area moment (m4)
L* length of the beam (m)
M mass of beam (kg).
m beam mass of the beam specimen(kg)
m exciter mass of the exciter motor assembly(kg).
ω beam frequency of beam specimen (rad/sec).
ωs fundamental frequency of beam specimen plus exciter
ωexciter fundamental frequency of exciter mounted on the beam
specimen
ρ* beam material density (kg/m3)

1. INTRODUCTION
A wide variety of materials are used in the design and building of the structure and
objects. The process of mechanical design is highly dependent on the strengths and bending
properties of the material being used. These factors are in turn dependent on the elastic
properties such as Young's modulus. Hence the knowledge of the Young's modulus is very
much vital for design. There have been many methods for measurement of the Young's
modulus. One of these methods is the tensile test, which represents a destructive test of
material. But the present research proposed scheme which can be described as a one of non –
destructive type of material testing.
Many researchers were presented different work related to the measurements of elastic
constant using non–destructive type of tests. R. Lance Willis et. al. [1] determined the young
and shear dynamic modulus of visco-elastic materials from laser vibrometric measurements
of the surface motion of a three-dimensional sample excited by a piezoelectric actuator inside
a chamber with controllable temperature and static pressure. The modulus are estimated from
an inversion code that minimizes the difference between the data and the predictions from a
finite element model in which the elastic modulus are the adjustable parameters. The
technique is first used to measure the dynamic properties of homogeneous samples and the
results are compared with those obtained by the standard rod resonance technique.

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Journal of Engineering and Development, Vol. 17, No.5, November 2013 , ISSN 1813- 7822

Lauren M. Pederson [2] presented the preliminary results from an experiment performed to
determine the temperature dependence of the modulus of elasticity for a thermoplastic iso
grid tube. To do this, the iso grid tube was subjected to axial tensile loads of (0-100) lbf and
strain was measured at room and at elevated temperatures (from 75-200 °F) using two
protocols. Thus, the purpose of his research is to determine the modulus of elasticity of the
tube as a function of temperature, with particular emphasis on measurements near the glass
transition temperature of the thermoplastic matrix.

Chi Hsiang Pan [3] used a novel method for determining young's modulus of thin films
with compact micro machined test structures and without using any extra load. The test
structures comprise of a pair of micro-strain gauges and a cantilever beam. An analytical
model is derived to extract the young's modulus of test structures. The obtained young's
modulus is reduced a little as residual stress increases.

H. Kinney et al.[4] used the technique of resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS) to

measure the second-order elastic constants of hydrated human dentin. Specimens were placed
between two transducers, and the resonant frequencies of vibration were measured between
0.5 and 1.4 MHZ. The magnitudes of the elastic constants determined with RUS are in good
agreement with values determined from sound speed measurements.

S. Siva Shashidhara et al. [5] compared between two goniometry based immersion
techniques for the measurement of elastic constants in isotropic and transversely isotropic
materials. Measurements were carried out on transversely isotropic unidirectional (glass-
epoxy and graphite-epoxy) composite materials. From the measured velocity data, the elastic
constants were determined through a numerical inversion. These techniques (through-
transmission and back-reflection) were verified using contact testing, mechanical testing, rule
of mixtures estimation and the data provided by the manufacturers.

Han Park et. al. [6] adopted the non-linear least squares method (NLLS) to understand
visco-elastic properties of composite materials for design and analysis of the structures and to
develop finite element codes for a composite structure with several damping materials. In this
study, an advanced technique for obtaining accurate loss factor and young's modulus of a
composite structure is introduced based on a multi degree of freedom curve-fitting method.
The loss factor and young's modulus of a composite structure are measured for different
temperatures by performing the test in a vibration measurement room where temperature
varies from 5 Co to 45 Co.

T. Pramila et. al. [7], determined the elastic constants of aluminum from the analysis of
laser generated ultrasonic bulk waves. A pulsed Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm) is used for
ultrasonic generation in a thick stepped Al sample and a He-Ne laser is used for heterodyne
detection of the generated signals. Their results show the applicability of the study of laser
generated bulk waves for the determination of elastic constants of any bulk material.

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Journal of Engineering and Development, Vol. 17, No.5, November 2013 , ISSN 1813- 7822

Yu-Hua Lin and Chia-Lung [8] presented an inverse method to derive the elastic constant of
thick composite plates of AS4/PEKK material from the resonance frequencies of a free–edge
test specimen based on modal vibration test. A mixed numerical experimental identification
procedure is used. The optimization technique, Hybrids genetic /Simulated/Annealing
algorithm, has been used. The results show that different stacking sequences and numbers of
frequencies have effect on the determination of the elastic constants.
G V Smurthy, and P. Nikhat [9] studied the behavior of elastic constants and the
variation on heat treatment in a nickel base super alloy Nimonic 263 by ultrasonic velocity
measurements. The results indicated that the elastic moduli of the material are very sensitive
to any minor compositional changes, resulting due to the formation of intermetallic phases on
heat treatment and can be effectively monitored by ultrasonic.

2. THEORETICAL FORMULATION
It is known that the problem of transversely vibrating beam represents a complicated
situation, so that, there is no paper that presents the complete solution from the formulation of
the governing differential to its solution, taken into consideration all beam nonlinearities.
Thus, for comparison purpose, two different models of beam named, Euler-Bernoulli and
Rayleigh are adopted. The mathematical formulation of the problem of beam transfers
vibration with simply supported boundary conditions can be followed in details in reference
[10]
and the frequency – elastic constant relationship using Euler-Bernoulli and Rayleigh
models are given by:-

ω   ρ ∗ A∗ L∗4 
2

E EUL =  BEAM    (1)

∗
 a   I
2


ω   ML∗3 
2

E RAY =  BEAM   ∗  (2)

 π   I 
2

3. EXPERIMENTAL WORK
As was mentioned previously that the present work is aimed to introduce a simple and
reliable experimental procedure for determining the elastic constant of the material, thus in
this section the experimental work is given great attention. Firstly it is important to note that
the materials of specimens used are metallic and nonmetallic materials (composite materials).
The metallic material elastic constant are well known, so that, the determination of their
elastic constants is used as a verification case studies to prove the reliability of the proposed
experimental method presented by the present work.
The experimental work was carried out at mechanical engineering laboratories
/mechanical engineering department / college of engineering / Kufa University. The
experimental is achieved by what is called the universal vibration apparatus with

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Journal of Engineering and Development, Vol. 17, No.5, November 2013 , ISSN 1813- 7822

manufacturing of additional jaws for clamping of the composite material specimens. The test
setup is shown in Figure.(1).

Fig.(1-b).

Fig.(1).Experimental test apparatus, (a)experimental setup, (b) Manufactured

fixtures (jaws) for specimens of composite materials.

The composite materials consist of a chopped strand mat (CSM) fiber, and polyester
resin as a matrix. The fibers of the composite specimens were distributed in a cross-angle
form to produce three different specimens. The specimens are manufactured in a shape of
beam of rectangular section according to the recommendations of the testing apparatus
manufacturer [11]. The testing material specifications are shown in Table (1) below:-

Table (1):- Specimens properties.

Specimens
Mass
No Material dimensions
(kg)
LxWxH (mm)
1 Steel 2.095 838 x 25 x10
2 Aluminum 0.655 838x 30x 10
3 Copper 2.205 838x 30 x 10
Composite
4 material 0.35 838x 30 x10
specimen 1
Composite
5 material 0.365 838x 30 x10
specimen 2
Composite
6 material 0.37 838x 30 x10
specimen 3

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Journal of Engineering and Development, Vol. 17, No.5, November 2013 , ISSN 1813- 7822

It is worthy to mention that all measuring instruments used in recording of data are
calibrated using standard calibration tools. Such as the weighting scale for measuring of the
specimen masses was calibrated with standard masses. Also, the speed of the harmonic
excitation measurements unit was calibrated using stroboscopic device.
The experimental procedure including of recording of natural frequency of the beam
specimens shown in Table (1) above by using the universal test apparatus. Each of these
specimens was suspended in a simply supported end conditions and motor assembly with
unbalanced disk was rotated in order to produce a harmonic excitation force. In order to
obtain the beam specimen natural frequency the motor speed was controlled by speed control
unit and it is increased gradually until the resonance condition is attained. The resonance
reading was recorded in increasing and decreasing modes. It is important to explain that
masses with specific values are added to the motor assembly in each test and then the
resonance condition for this test is recorded. This is have been done in an attempt to obtain
the resonance condition in more accurate readings, because the experimental procedure
adopted in the present work is greatly depending on the measurements of the natural
frequency at resonance condition. The experimental readings of the natural frequency using
resonance conditions with added masses are shown graphically in Figures. (2) to (7).

Fig. (2) Shows the natural frequency of Fig. (5) Shows the natural frequency
the structure against the added mass for the structure against the added
for steel specimen. mass for composite material
specimen No.1.

Fig. (3) Shows the natural frequency of Fig. (6) Shows the natural frequency
the structure against the added mass of the structure against the added
for aluminum specimen mass for composite material
specimen No.2.

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Journal of Engineering and Development, Vol. 17, No.5, November 2013 , ISSN 1813- 7822

Fig. (4) Shows the natural frequency Fig. (7) Shows the natural frequency
of the structure against the added of the structure against the added
mass for copper specimen. mass for composite material specimen
No.3.

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSIONS

In mechanical engineering, it is known that a specified structure can be allowed to
vibrate under a forced vibration condition until the resonance condition is satisfied (over a
short period of time). At the resonance condition it is known that the ratio (ωforce/ωnat) is equal
to one. Thus, the measurement of the forced frequency becomes a measure for the natural
frequency. But the problem appeared in the experimental measurements of the natural
frequency that they are represents the measurements of the natural frequency of the beam and
the vibrating structure (added masses plus excitation motor). Thus for overcoming this
problem, the Dunkerley's method is incorporated in the present experimental work.
Dunkerley's formula, show that, the fundamental frequency of the beam by itself may be
determined by the following relationship [12]:-

1 1 1
= 2 + 2 (3)
ω s ωbeam ω exciter
2

The effect of the added mass on the beam specimen natural frequency has been
removed using the results shown in Figures (2-7), by extending the line of the graph until
which it is cutting the (1/ω2) axis. Thus, the results of the natural frequency corresponding to
this intersection point represent the natural frequency of the beam specimen mass and the
exciter motor. The above formula can be formulated in more convenient form take into
consideration the effect of the position of the motor exciter along the specimen. This attempt
can be done with mathematical manipulations depending on the influence coefficient of the
mass of the motor exciter assembly which is considered at the mid span of the specimen ,
and it is may be given by:-

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Journal of Engineering and Development, Vol. 17, No.5, November 2013 , ISSN 1813- 7822

2
 ωs  1
  = (4)
 ω beam  1 + 2.09 mexciter
mbeam

Using the formula given in Eq.(5) and experimental measurements of the natural
frequency (ωs) obtained from graphs shown in Figures(2-4), and using the expressions for
the elastic constants given in Eqs.( 1) and (2), the experimental measurements of the elastic
constant of metallic materials are given in Table (2).

Table (2). Experimental measurements of elastic constants of metallic

materials.

Steel copper Aluminum

E
specimen specimen specimen
E table GPa)
200 110 68
Ref. [3]
E Euler
197.09 102.65 57.216
(GPa)
E Ray
189.38 100.938 55.253
(GPa)
% error
based on
1.455 6.681 15.858
Euler’s
model
% error
based on
5.310 8.238 18.745
Rayleigh's
model

The range of the percentage error in these results compared with that obtained from
[13]
Ref. . It is shown that an error ranges of (1.455-15.8858) % using Euler's model, and of
(5.31-18.745) % using Rayleigh's model. These percentage errors are attributed to many
reasons, such that, the simplicity of way of measurements of the resonance conditions and
may be the differences in the type of the material used in the presents work and that available
in Ref [2-10]. In spite of these errors, the results indicated that the experimental measurements
method of the elastic constants proposed in the presents study provided reliable results with
simplicity of the testing setup and rout of the experimental work. These comparisons are
aimed to verifying the reliability and the simplicity of the experimental measurements
method adopted in the present work. Because actually, the present work mainly aimed to
presents a reliable and simple experimental method to determine the elastic constants of the
composite materials experimentally. Accordingly, the same experimental procedure used in

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determination of the elastic constants of the metallic material can be followed to determine
the elastic constants of the composite materials. The results are shown in Table (3).

Table(3). Experimental measurements of elastic constants of composite

materials.

Composite Composite Composite

Elastic material material material
constant Specimen Specimen Specimen
1 2 3
E Theo.
34.30 35.32 36.34
(GPa)
E Euler
38.66 37.78 37.47
(GPa)

E Ray
34.99 35.01 34.66
(GPa)
% error
based on
12.711 6.964 3.109
Euler’s
model
% error
based on
2.011 0.877 4.623
Rayleigh's
model

The theoretical elastic constant of the composite material was calculated on the basis
of the rule of mixture (See Ref.[12] for more details).
The investigation of the results indicates that the value of the error is ranging between
maximum and minimum values of (3.101-12.711) based on Euler model, and (0.877- 4.623)
based on Rayleigh model. Accordingly, it can be concluded that the proposed experimental
scheme provided a good and reasonable experimental results of elastic constants of composite
materials. Also, the using of vibration properties in determination of elastic constants in a
simple manner with the correlation between, experimental and theoretical methods proposed
in the present study, may resulting in a powerful method can be a adopted for measuring of
elastic constants within an acceptable degree of accuracy and reliability.
For more verification purposes, other case study was adopted in the present work. A
computer finite element program was developed (built) using a package which is called
(ANSYS). The problem of beam transverse vibration with simply supported end conditions
was solved with feeding back of the results of the elastic constant obtained on the basis of the
proposed experimental work. So that, the results of the beam natural frequency obtained as a
output of the program, was compared with the experimental results of present experimental
work. The comparison is shown graphically in Figure.(8), and the results indicate again that

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Journal of Engineering and Development, Vol. 17, No.5, November 2013 , ISSN 1813- 7822

the present work provided an acceptable measurements of the elastic constant of the
composite materials.

Fig.(8) show the comparison between the experimental and numerical values
of the modulus of elasticity.

5. CONCLUSIONS
An attempt was made in the present study to provide a simple and reliable
experimental procedure to measure the elastic constant of the composite materials as a
nondestructive test. The proposed method was based on the measurements of the vibration
properties of a beam specimen vibration problem.
The experimental results indicate that the proposed experimental method provided an
acceptable, simple and reliable way in determination of modulus of elasticity of composite
materials with acceptable errors ranging between (3.101-12.711) based on Euler’s model, and
(0.877- 4.623) based on Rayleigh’s model.

REFERENCES

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2. Lauren M. Penderson, and Joseph R. Blandino, "Determination of Modulus of
Elasticity as A Function of Temperature For an Isogrid Tube", James Madson
University and Nasa Lngeley Research Center, 2002.
3. Cai H. Pan," A Novel Method for Determining Youngapos; S Modulus of Thin
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Journal of Engineering and Development, Vol. 17, No.5, November 2013 , ISSN 1813- 7822

4. J.H.Kinney, J.R.Gladden, G.W.Marshall, and J.D.MAYNARD, "Resonant

Ultrasound Spectroscopy Measurements of The Elastic Constant of Human
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8. Yu-Hua Lin and Chia-Lung " Using Modal Analysis and Optimization to
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