In-core leaching of chloride for prediction of corrosion of steel in concrete

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the effect of temperature and environment (particularly temperature cycling) on the behavior of polymer composite materials typical of that used in infrastructure applications as well as in aerospace applications. To examine the role of temperature cycling on an aerospace composite, durability studies were carried out on a woven graphite/epoxy system targeted at applications in areas of the aircraft industry where operating environment is of concern. Fatigue and residual strength testing was carried out on the composite material in question with the objective of developing a residual strength based life prediction model in which the effects of environment are considered. In this case, the approach called for the evaluation of tensile strength degradation during fatigue cycling in specified environments. The results could then be combined to predict the fatigue life of the material under periodically changing environments. The study was duplicated with the material that was previously aged (unstressed) under hygrothermal cycling to study the effects of environment alone on the composite.