Environmental Durability of Fibre-Reinforced Composites

Ketsiri KUESENG; AJ CERVENKA; Robert J YOUNG

Authors

Ketsiri KUESENG School of Science, Walailak University, Thasala, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80161
AJ CERVENKA Manchester Materials Science Centre, University of Manchester and UMIST, Manchester, M1 7HS
Robert J YOUNG Manchester Materials Science Centre, University of Manchester and UMIST, Manchester, M1 7HS

Keywords:

Raman spectroscopy, Shear-lag parameter, Durability, Interfacial failure, Hygrothermal effects

Abstract

The durability of the composites has been assessed in terms of the shear-lag parameter, n through the use of Raman spectroscopy. The decrease of the shear-lag parameter indicates damage due to hygrothermal ageing. The stability of the specimens subjected to the wet and dry conditions has been compared by the determined n. The n values for the wet composites have been found to decrease faster than those of the dry ones. The composites exposed to water vapour and liquid water environments were also investigated in terms of the moisture content, the mid-fibre strain and the debond length. There was no interfacial debonding for the specimen exposed to water vapour whilst the ones aged in the liquid water experienced such failure.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Chin JW Nguyen T Aouadi K. Effects of environmental exposure on fiberreinforced plastic (FRP) materials used in construction. J Composites Tech Res 1997; 19: 205-13.

Harris B. Engineering Composites Materials. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1999.

Fried N. Degradation of composite materials: The effect of water on glassreinforced plastics. In: Wendt FW Liebowitz H and Perrone N (eds). Mechanics of Composite Materials. Pergamon Press, Pensylvania, 1967.

Sala G. Composite degradation due to fluid absorption. Composites Part B 2000; 31: 357-73.

Cervenka AJ Bannister DJ Young RJ. Moisture absorption and interfacial failure in aramid/epoxy composites. Composites Part A 1998; 29A: 1137-44.

Varelidis PC Papakostopoulos DG Pandazis CI Papaspyrides CD. Polyamine coated Kevlar fabric in epoxy resin: mechanical properties and moisture absorption studies. Composites Part A 2000; 31(6): 549.

Bannister DJ. Micromechanical and Hygrothermal Behaviour of Single-fibre Epoxy Resin Composites. PhD Thesis, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, Manchester Materials Science Centre, 1996.

Kueseng K. Hygrothermal Effects on Composite Micromechanics. PhD Thesis, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, Manchester Materials Science Centre, 2001.

Peelamedu MS Yunhe Y Molyet KE Naganathan NG Dukkipati RV. Investigation of Strain Transfer in an Induced Strain Actuator. In: 6th International Conference on Composites Engineering, Florida, June, 1999.

Andrews MC Bannister DJ Young RJ. Review - The interfacial behaviour of aramid/epoxy model composites. J Materials Sci 1996; 31: 3893.

Galiotis C. Interfacial studies on model composites by laser Raman spectroscopy. Composites Sci Tech 1990; 42: 125-50.

Hull D. An Introduction to Composite Materials. Cambridge University Press, 1996.

Kueseng K Hussain A Cervenka AJ Young RJ. Moisture absorption and interfacial failure in Twaron/Epoxy composites. In: Proceedings of ECCM-9 conference, Brighton. June, 2000.

Chau PS Piggott MR. Load Bearing Fibre Composites. Piggott MR (ed). Pergamon Press, Toronto, 1980.