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Experimental characterization and multiscale modeling on Al-HDPE functionally graded materials

An Aluminum/High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) functionally graded material (FGM) has been fabricated as an essential component of a multifunctional building envelope with high performance for energy efficiency and sustainability. The mass production and its quality control of the FGM were realized by using coarse aluminum powder (Al) and fine HDPE powder through a vibration-sedimentation process. The gradation of the FGM across its thickness direction was analyzed by a modified Rice method, from which five different uniform Al-HDPE samples were made to characterize the material properties of the five sub-layers of the FGM. The material properties of the FGM such as Young's modulus, Poisson ratio, thermal expansion coefficients and thermal conductivities were obtained by various experimental tests. A multiscale computational analysis was further developed to model the mechanical and thermal properties of the FGM and verified by comparing it with the test results. The developed multiscale model will be used to design and optimize the FGM for further development.

Author(s):

Fangliang Chen    
Columbia Univsersity
United States

Yingjie Liu    
Columbia Univsersity
United States

Xin He    
Columbia Univsersity
United States

Huiming Yin    
Columbia Univsersity
United States