Abstract
For the purpose of increasing payload and reduce freight cost, lightweight composite tank containers used for transportation have been progressively developed during the last years. Compared to conventionally produced cylindrical steel tanks, the fiber-reinforced solutions allow greater flexibility in the tank design. Despite a number of further material-related benefits of fiber-reinforced composites as non-conductive and non-magnetic behavior as well as corrosion resistance and high strength, the optimization of their thermal degradation properties during combustion is still a challenge. To improve the fire performance of lightweight composite containers, special intumescent fire protection coatings can be applied onto the outside tank surface. This paper presents fire tests on glass-fiber-reinforced plastic transport tanks with complex geometries sheltered with different surface-applied fire protection systems. To evaluate the fire resistance of the tank structures, a fiber optic monitoring system was developed. This system is based on distributed temperature measurements using high-resolution optical backscatter reflectometry and pointwise reference measurements using fiber Bragg gratings. Thereby, all the fiber optic sensors were directly integrated in the composite layer structure of the tanks. The focus of the presented work is on the demonstration of capability of fiber optic monitoring system in such high-temperature application. Moreover, the fiber optic measurements provide new insights into the efficiency of intumescent coating applied for fire protection of fiber-reinforced plastic transport tanks.
Highlights
The still growing road transport market has opened a tough international competition
Such fiber-reinforced composites have much lower thermal conductivity than metallic materials [1] used in the manufacture of traditional transport tanks, the fire resistance is directly limited by the viscous softening of the resin matrix [1, 2]
In this paper we report about fire tests on real glass-fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) transport tanks to Journal of Civil Structural Health Monitoring (2019) 9:361–368 investigate the impact of different intumescent coatings applied onto the outside surface of the composite tanks
Summary
The still growing road transport market has opened a tough international competition It is becoming more and more important for the involved parties to successfully set themselves apart from other competitors in matters of cost efficiency, environmental compatibility and safety. Fiber-reinforced composites typically consist of two main components, i.e., carbon or glass-fiber mats as reinforcing material and enclosing epoxy or polyester composite matrix Such fiber-reinforced composites have much lower thermal conductivity than metallic materials [1] used in the manufacture of traditional transport tanks, the fire resistance is directly limited by the viscous softening of the resin matrix [1, 2]. The LUNA OBR system used here allows relative temperature measurements with the spatial resolution in centimeter range Such high spatial resolution is achieved using a coherent optical frequency-domain reflectometry (c-OFDR) [9]. The FBG sensor technology provides here only a pointwise temperature data acquisition, it is well proven in many other applications [12] giving a point of reference for the implemented distributed temperature sensors
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
