Abstract
Randomly oriented short fiber mat reinforced polyester composite laminates immersed in natural seawater for various periods were tested in static and cyclic fatigue loading under three-point bending conditions. Water absorption increased the weight of the specimen while the extraction of soluble compounds induces a weak weight loss. Wohler curves carried out from repetitive fatigue tests were drawn for the different periods of immersion time. These curves, which are characterized by an important and a significant scatter in their lifetime, were modeled by straight lines. These glass-polyester laminates deteriorate in fatigue tests at a constant rate by cycle decade. This rate increases with increasing immersion time in seawater at a constant speed. A comparison between different mathematical models of endurance curves shows that Wohler's equation gives a good representation of the average part of the curve.
Highlights
A fiber reinforced epoxy resin composite has a series of sound properties, such as high specific strength, high resistance to seawater corrosion, anti-adhesion of biological forms, and absorbing impact energy [1]
The material used in this study is a composite laminate with four layers of randomly oriented short multidirectional glass fiber reinforced polyester matrix manufactured by the contact molding method
Roy et al [51], in fatigue testing a series of laminated composite materials based on mat glass fiber reinforced polyester matrix in joint adhesive bonded composite-composite and composite-steel for marine applications report rates of 13% (0°), 7% (45°), 9% and 10%
Summary
A fiber reinforced epoxy resin composite has a series of sound properties, such as high specific strength, high resistance to seawater corrosion, anti-adhesion of biological forms, and absorbing impact energy [1]. Unidirectional or randomly directioned glass fiber reinforced polyester or epoxy resin are commonly used as lightweight materials in a wide variety of marine applications These laminated composite materials are very susceptible and sensitive to damage induced by the environment, which degrades severely their physical and mechanical properties [2,3]. To investigate the influence of the mechanical properties of glass fiber or kevlar reinforced epoxy matrix laminates on the fatigue and damage behavior, new predictive models have been developed [21]. They still need to be validated through experimental data. The quasi-static behavior of the untreated laminate under three-point bending is described and analyzed
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