Theses and Dissertations

ORCID

0009-0005-3713-8446

Advisor

Priddy, Matthew

Committee Member

Priddy, Matthew

Committee Member

Jones, William

Committee Member

Kim, Han-Gyu

Date of Degree

8-12-2026

Original embargo terms

Immediate Worldwide Access

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Mechanical Engineering

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

James Worth Bagley College of Engineering

Department

Michael W. Hall School of Mechanical Engineering

Abstract

While Stitched Resin Infusion (SRI) has been successfully implemented in aerospace, the understanding of the benefits of z-plane reinforcement in resin-infused carbon fiber structures remains in its infancy. This study was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 involved the fabrication, testing, and failure analysis of both z-plane reinforced and unreinforced standardized skin–stringer assemblies. Comparison of the experimental results and examination of the failure progression informed a second phase of testing. In Phase 2, testing was repeated with the addition of localized z-plane reinforcement to delay the initial yield and supported the postdoctoral research of Dr. Taehee Lee. Results from both phases provide valuable guidance regarding potential commercial and defense aerospace applications, as well as directions for future research. Furthermore, continued work characterizing the localized effects of z-plane reinforcement will aid the development of finite element analysis (FEA) modeling tools essential for the broader use of this technology.

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