Search

Highlights Fiber hybrid with bundle‐by‐bundle dispersion can achieve the high performance of composites, fully understand the hybrothermal resistance of hybrid composites is the key to prove the applications in engineering structures. In the present paper, the hygrothermal resistance performances of new type carbon and glass fiber reinforced epoxy based hybrid rod with bundle‐by‐bundle dispersion produced by pultrusion technology is investigated experimentally. The tests of water absorption and desorption, thermal and mechanical performances are performed to obtain the evolution rules of hygrothermal aging. As a result, the water absorption of hybrid rod confirms to the Fick's diffusion behavior, the serious relaxation of resin matrix and the interfacial debonding of fiber‐resin exposed at high temperature provide more diffusion space for water molecules. Long‐term hydrothermal aging results in the recoverable plasticization of resin matrix and irrecoverable interfacial debonding of fiber‐resin, which brings about the degradation of 6.7%–15.0% for short beam shear strength (SBSS) retention. In addition, the plasticization effect reduces the cross‐linking density of resin matrix, which leads to the degradation of 3.3%–15.6% for glass transition temperature (Tg) retention. The life prediction results show that degradation rate of SBSS is gradually slow down and reached to a stable retention of 85.5%. Relaxation of resin matrix and interfacial debonding accelerate the diffusion of water molecules. Plasticization and interfacial debonding lead to the degradation of short beam shear strength retention and glass transition temperature. Long‐term life prediction shows that short beam shear strength e retention is 85.5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites have been widely used in civil engineering structures due to their excellent mechanical and durability properties. The harsh service environment of civil engineering leads to significant degradation of the thermal and mechanical performances of CFRP, which then reduces its service reliability, service safety, and life. Research on the durability of CFRP is urgently needed to understand the long-term performance degradation mechanism. In the present study, the hygrothermal aging behavior of CFRP rods was investigated experimentally through immersion in distilled water for 360 days. The water absorption and diffusion behavior, the evolution rules of short beam shear strength (SBSS), and dynamic thermal mechanical properties were obtained to investigate the hygrothermal resistance of CFRP rods. The research results show that the water absorption behavior conforms to Fick's model. The ingression of water molecules leads to a significant decrease in SBSS and glass transition temperature (Tg). This is attributed to the plasticization effect of the resin matrix and interfacial debonding. Furthermore, the Arrhenius equation was used to predict the long-term life of SBSS in the actual service environment based on the time–temperature equivalence theory, obtaining a stable strength retention of SBSS of 72.78%, which was meaningful to provide a design guideline for the long-term durability of CFRP rods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]