The University of Tokyo · Engineering
Professor Yi Wan's research lab specializes in advanced composite materials, with a primary focus on carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastics (CFRTPs) for lightweight automotive applications. The lab investigates the mechanical behavior, processing-structure-property relationships, and deformation mechanisms—such as springback and deconsolidation—of short and randomly oriented fiber composites. Using a combination of experimental testing, finite element analysis, and statistical modeling (e.g., Monte Carlo simulations), the lab develops predictive models for elastic properties and failure modes in complex geometries like L-shaped and hollow beams.
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
The application of carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastics (CFRTPs) for automotive mass production is attracting increasing attention from researchers and engineers in related fields. This article presents recent developments in CFRTPs focusing on the systematic development of lightweight CFRTP applications for automotive mass production. Additionally, a related national project of Japan conducted at the University of Tokyo is also introduced. The basic development demands, the specific requireme
The thermal deformation, which is called “deconsolidation” or “springback,” is often observed when the randomly oriented short carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastics are heated. In the present study, the deconsolidation effect of two kinds of randomly oriented short carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastics was studied experimentally and theoretically. The deconsolidation ratios were measured as the thickness ratio of the deformed randomly oriented short carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastics in th
Randomly oriented strands (ROS) exhibit multiscale inhomogeneous and significant stochastic variations even in elastic properties because of their complex internal geometries. To quantify the variations and expand the applicability of ROS in industrial fields, a laminate analogy analytical model was developed in combination with Monte Carlo simulation-based statistical analysis to compute the mean and variance of the elastic modulus of ROS. Two semi-empirical fitting equations were formulated to
Curved section is regarded as the weak point of composite structures because of the delamination caused by the stress concentration. In the present work, L-shaped specimens made of randomly oriented short fiber-reinforced polypropylene were prepared to investigate the effect of the radius of the curved section of composite structures on the strength and the damage modes. The results of tensile tests and finite element analysis indicated that the radius greatly affects on the stress distribution
The flexural properties of hollow beams are influenced by both the structural morphologies and the level of anisotropy of the materials. Card web carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastics (CWTs), recognized as a promising composite for fabrication with recycled carbon fiber, demonstrate control over fiber alignment and robust mechanical properties, characterized by a wide distribution of fiber lengths. In this study, square-shaped, tube-shaped, and hat-shaped hollow beams are modeled with different
Gelatin based composites reinforced with carbon fibers of different architectures(long carbon fiber, short carbon fiber, woven carbon fiber and carbon fiber felt) were prepared. Mechanical properties of these composites were determined as a function of fiber volume fraction ( V f) , fracture surfaces of tensile specimens were observed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Experimental results showed that of all the composites studied, long carbon fiber gelatin (C L/Gel) composite exhibites the
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