Development and evaluation of load-bearing fiber reinforced polymer composite panel systems with tongue and groove joints

Ruifeng Liang,Gangarao Hota

doi:10.54113/j.sust.2021.000008

Abstract

This paper focuses on recent advances made in design, development, manufacturing, evaluation and modeling of load bearing fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite sandwich panel systems including tongue and groove joints. Several processes have been researched in collaboration with industry partners for production of composite panels, including: 1) pultrusion, 2) high temperature resin spread and infusion, 3) vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM), and 4) compression molding. The advantages and disadvantages of each process are discussed with emphasis on the high temperature resin infusion process. Composite laminates are characterized in terms of strength and stiffness under tension, bending, and shear in relation to longitudinal and transverse fiber orientations. Thermo-mechanical property variations of the FRP composite sandwich panels including joint responses are presented in terms of: 1) production processes, 2) carbon versus E-glass fiber, 3) vinyl ester versus epoxy, and 4) panel and joint design and efficiency including classical lamination theory. The sandwich panels are evaluated at component and full scales under static four point bending loads and further analyzed using classical finite element models for their mechanical responses.

Highlights

Few materials can survive long service life under aggressive waterfront environment, i.e. onslaught of sea waves, impact from vessels, corrosive salts, sand and pebble erosion, high atmospheric humidity, inter-tidal wetting and drying, UV ray effects and marine borers etc. [1,2,3]
This paper focuses on recent advances made in design, development, manufacturing, evaluation and modeling of load bearing fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite sandwich panel systems including tongue and groove joints
Several processes have been researched in collaboration with industry partners for production of composite panels, including: 1) pultrusion, 2) high temperature resin spread and infusion, 3) vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM), and 4) compression molding

Summary

Introduction

Few materials can survive long service life under aggressive waterfront environment, i.e. onslaught of sea waves, impact from vessels, corrosive salts, sand and pebble erosion, high atmospheric humidity, inter-tidal wetting and drying, UV ray effects and marine borers etc. [1,2,3]. Steel has been the primary structural material used for ships. Structures make up the largest weight group of any ship, typically contributing 35% to 45% of the overall vehicle weight [4]. This fact implies that ship structures have a major influence on the overall characteristics such as displacement, payload, signatures, combat system effectiveness, and life-cycle cost. According to Greene [5], currently, 52 percent of a ship’s manpower is focused on maintenance because of primary construction material being steel requiring constant maintenance to avoid repaid degradation from corrosion. It is desired to develop an alternative to steel for the construction of ship structures [2, 6]

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