@article{awad_hamouda_midani_katsou_fan_2022, title={Polylactic Acid (PLA) Reinforced with Date Palm Sheath Fiber Bio-Composites: Evaluation of Fiber Density, Geometry, and Content on the Physical and Mechanical Properties}, volume={11}, ISSN={["1544-046X"]}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15440478.2022.2143979}, DOI={10.1080/15440478.2022.2143979}, abstractNote={Significant interest for utilizing and processing natural fibers (NF) to develop sustainable and fully biodegradable composites evolved as the global environmental concerns upsurge. Date palm tree (DPT) accounts for more than 2.8 million tons of waste annually, making it the most abundant agricultural biomass waste in the MENA region. This study investigates the effect of date palm fiber (DPF) density, diameter size and content on both the mechanical and physical properties of polylactic acid (PLA) reinforced DPF bio-composite. The bio-composites are developed using melt-mixing technique which is followed by compression molding. The influence of the mechanical properties is investigated by evaluating the tensile, flexural and impact strengths. Meanwhile bio-composite thickness swelling (TS), moisture content (MC) and water absorption (WA) characteristics are evaluated. Bio-composite microstructures are examined using SEM to investigate the interfacial bonding between PLA matrix and DPF. Results showed that at 40 wt.% DPF, the TS, MC, and WA were the highest demonstrating an increase of 4.10%, 4.95%, and 8.22%, respectively. Although the results demonstrated a decrease in mechanical properties as DPF content increased (depending on DPF geometry), the results indicate that the developed technologies could be commercialized under the waste management scheme for non-structural applications.}, journal={JOURNAL OF NATURAL FIBERS}, publisher={Informa UK Limited}, author={Awad, Said and Hamouda, Tamer and Midani, Mohamad and Katsou, Evina and Fan, Mizi}, year={2022}, month={Nov} }
 @article{hamouda_seyam_peters_2015, title={Evaluation of the integrity of 3D orthogonal woven composites with embedded polymer optical fibers}, volume={78}, ISSN={["1879-1069"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.compositesb.2015.03.092}, abstractNote={Abstract Due to their high flexibility, high tensile strain and high fracture toughness, polymer optical fibers (POF) are excellent candidates to be utilized as embedded sensors for structure health monitoring of fiber reinforced composites. In 3D orthogonal woven structures yarns are laid straight and polymer optical fiber can be easily inserted during preform formation either as a replacement of constituents or between them. The results of the previous paper indicated how an optic fiber sensor can be integrated into 3D orthogonal woven preforms with no signal loss. This paper addresses whether incorporating POF into 3D orthogonal woven composites affects their structure integrity and performance characteristics. Range of 3D orthogonal woven composites with different number of layers and different weft densities was fabricated. The samples were manufactured with and without POF to determine the effect of embedding POF on composite structure integrity. Bending, tensile strength tests, and cross section analysis were conducted on the composite samples. Results revealed that integrity of 3D orthogonal woven composite was not affected by the presence of POF. Due to its high strain, embedded POF was able to withstand the stresses without failure as a result of conducting destructive tests of the composite samples. Micrograph of cross-section of composite samples showed that minimum distortion of the yarn cross-section in vicinity of POF and no presence of air pocked around the embedded POF which indicates that 3D woven preform provided a good host for embedded POF.}, journal={COMPOSITES PART B-ENGINEERING}, author={Hamouda, Tamer and Seyam, Abdel-Fattah M. and Peters, Kara}, year={2015}, month={Sep}, pages={79–85} }
 @article{hamouda_seyam_peters_2015, title={Investigating the Loss of an Embedded Perfluorinated Optical Fiber for Different Resin's Gel Time}, volume={16}, ISSN={["1875-0052"]}, DOI={10.1007/s12221-015-5534-0}, number={10}, journal={FIBERS AND POLYMERS}, author={Hamouda, Tamer and Seyam, Abdel-Fattah M. and Peters, Kara}, year={2015}, month={Oct}, pages={2135–2140} }
 @article{hamouda_seyam_peters_2015, title={Polymer optical fibers integrated directly into 3D orthogonal woven composites for sensing}, volume={24}, ISSN={["1361-665X"]}, DOI={10.1088/0964-1726/24/2/025027}, abstractNote={This study demonstrates that standard polymer optical fibers (POF) can be directly integrated into composites from 3D orthogonal woven preforms during the weaving process and then serve as in-situ sensors to detect damage due to bending or impact loads. Different composite samples with embedded POF were fabricated of 3D orthogonal woven composites with different parameters namely number of y-/x-layers and x-yarn density. The signal of POF was not affected significantly by the preform structure. During application of resin using VARTM technique, significant drop in backscattering level was observed due to pressure caused by vacuum on the embedded POF. Measurements of POF signal while in the final composites after resin cure indicated that the backscattering level almost returned to the original level of un-embedded POF. The POF responded to application of bending and impact loads to the composite with a reduction in the backscattering level. The backscattering level almost returned back to its original level after removing the bending load until damage was present in the composite. Similar behavior occurred due to impact events. As the POF itself is used as the sensor and can be integrated throughout the composite, large sections of future 3D woven composite structures could be monitored without the need for specialized sensors or complex instrumentation.}, number={2}, journal={SMART MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES}, author={Hamouda, Tamer and Seyam, Abdel-Fattah M. and Peters, Kara}, year={2015}, month={Feb} }
 @article{hamouda_peters_seyam_2012, title={Effect of resin type on the signal integrity of an embedded perfluorinated polymer optical fiber}, volume={21}, ISSN={["1361-665X"]}, DOI={10.1088/0964-1726/21/5/055023}, abstractNote={Polymer optical fibers (POF) hold many advantages for embedded sensing, such as their low cost, flexibility, high tensile strain limits and high fracture toughness. POF sensors may therefore be integrated into fiber reinforced composite structures for monitoring structural behavior. Since POFs do not require a protective coating, it is critical to verify that the resin system does not have a negative impact on the noise level or performance of POF sensors during composite manufacture. This study measured the effect of vinylester and epoxy resin systems on the signal loss of embedded perfluorinated, graded index POFs. Photon-counting optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) was used to monitor the signal attenuation and backscattering level of the POFs throughout the resin curing cycle. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) and cross section analyses using scanning electronic microscope (SEM) images were also conducted to investigate whether the resin system caused chemical and physical changes of the POF. This study showed that vinylester resin caused a significant increase in the backscattering level of POF sensors and therefore induced high fiber signal losses. On the other hand, the POF treated with epoxy showed no change in backscattering level, indicating that no chemical or physical change had occurred to the POF.}, number={5}, journal={SMART MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES}, author={Hamouda, Tamer and Peters, Kara and Seyam, Abdel-Fattah M.}, year={2012}, month={May} }