Design of Composite Stairs in UTP Academic Blocks

• Main Author: Mohd Azuan bin Mohd Azlan, Mohd Azuan
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Teknologi Petronas 2009
• Subjects: TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery
• Online Access: http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/759/1/Mohd_Azuan_Bin_Mohd_Azlan.pdf; http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/759/
• Institution: Universiti Teknologi Petronas

his report basically discusses the research done on the proposed topic, which is Design of Composite Stairs in UTP Academic Block. The objective of the project is to design and analyze the proposed composite stairs structure using glass fiber reinforced plastic, specifically glass fiber reinforced epoxy, GRE. LAP software will be platform for the first phase to determine the suitable thickness of the components under the maximum tensile and compressive loading situation, by the use of core (sandwich laminate) and without core (pure laminate). Next, fabrication process of the stairs components using the state of the art Vacuum Infusion Process (VIP) will be designed that suits the design shape. Specific tooling and equipments for the purpose are identified where the process route would be different between the sandwich laminate and pure laminate. Few procedures are created and investigated for the least cost and material used to produce the whole stairs. In the end, a sample will be produced and will be tested for flexural strength. The sample’s actual thickness and flexural strength then will be used again for re-analysis in LAP to get the new laminate thickness and number of layers. The components’ design likely to be nine rectangular tubular shape of specific dimension, assembled as stairs which has three steps. Final thickness value for sandwich laminate is 8.12 mm and for without the use of core, the value is 5.72 mm. Designed fabrication route starts with VIP, cutting process using diamond cutter machine and assembly by the means of epoxy adhesive.