Effect of hybrid thermal cycling shocks on the mechanicalproperties of structural composites

Abstract

In the present research, tensile and flexural mechanical properties of glass epoxy structural composites under simultaneous thermal cycling loading and thermal shocks called hybrid thermal cycling shocks, have been studied. A series of tensile and flexural tests under static and hybrid thermal loading conditions (15 and 30 thermal cycles with -70oC (Degrees Celsius) and +100oC (Degrees Celsius) thermal shocks), were applied on the structural composite specimens and the obtained results are fully compared and investigated. It was found that shocks have a more effective role in changing stiffness in comparison to cycles but the tensile strength of glass/epoxy composites was influenced by the hybrid thermal loads more sensible. For instance, tensile strength was reduced by 12.1% under 30 cycles and thermal shocks. In addition, the flexural bending strength and stiffness were decreased in comparison to static loading conditions. The flexural bending strength and stiffness under hybrid thermal loadings were changed and reduced by 27.64% and 7.2% under 30 cycles under thermal shocks respectively.