An Experimentally and Numerically Comparison between E-Glass/Epoxy and Basalt/Epoxy Pipes Pressurized Internally

Abstract

The current composite pipes such as E-glass have better properties compared to metallic pipes. However, these pipes are prone to failure during its service life. In contrast, natural fiber such as basalt fiber composite pipes has better mechanical characteristics compared to current composite pipes. Hoop tensile, longitudinal tensile and internal pressure loads were carried out through experimentally and numerically investigation on the basalt/epoxy and E-glass/epoxy pipe performance. The basalt/epoxy and E-glass/epoxy composite pipes have been manufactured with ±55o winding angle using dry filament winding with impregnation of epoxy resin used Vacuum Infusion Process (VIP) technique and investigated. Basalt and E-glass composite pipes with winding angles of ±45o, ±55o, ±65o, ±75o were fabricated in order to assess the optimal winding angle which can resists the subjected loads. There were good agreement between numerical and experimental results have been recorded. For internal pressure test, the basalt pipes have more internal pressure carrying capacity more than E-glass by 2.41%. Through this investigation, can be concluded that the natural based fiber of basalt can be used as a suitable replacement than E-glass, has further advantages of being cheap, abundant, renewable and easily recyclable. The also possess high strength, excellent flexural stiffness to cost ratio and low thermal conductivity