Hygrothermal and temperature effects on load-carrying capacity and failure mechanism of open-hole laminates prepared with narrow tape prepreg of GFRP

Abstract

The tensile and compressive properties of the open-hole laminates fabricated with glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) under various temperature/humidity coupled conditions are important design parameters for GFRP structures in helicopter. In current work, a comprehensive experimental study about the effects of temperature and hygrothermal on the open-hole mechanical property of HS6/AC318 glass/epoxy multidirectional laminates was conducted. The load-displacement responses, fracture morphologies and failure mechanisms of quasi-isotropic GFRP laminates with a center hole under tensile and compressive loads at the five environmental conditions were compared, and the effects of the temperature and hygrothermal on the open-hole tensile (OHL) strengths and open-hole compressive (OHC) strengths of GFRP laminates were investigated. In addition, the relevancies between the OHL and OHC strength of open-hole laminates and the basic material properties of unidirectional laminates were explored, and some links between the OHL strength and interlaminar fracture toughness were found. The results showed that the OHC strength of open-hole laminates was directly proportional to the 0° compressive strength of unidirectional laminates. Based on the experimental data and analysis an empirical formula of the OHC strength at arbitrary temperature and humidity combined conditions was proposed.