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This paper presents an experimental investigation into the influence of winding angles in multiaxial ultimate elastic wall stress (UEWS) tests of glass-fibre reinforced epoxy (GRE) composite pipes. Currently, UEWS test is one of the alternative methods used to the 1000-hour test procedure detailed in ASTM D2992 for the detection of manufacturing changes and reconfirmation of the design basis of composite pipes. A stress-strain response was obtained for each winding angle and the results then compared with those computed through conventional laminate theory. Experimental data showed that the UEWS point varies for each winding angle, and the difference becomes even more pronounced, especially when the angles deviated from the ideal ±55°. It is also concluded that the UEWS stresses, which represent the onset of non-linearity were very much dependent on the transverse and shear stress responses, and these values were found to be consistent with the predicted values from the commonly used Tsai Wu failure criterion.

This paper describes the modeling of multiaxial ultimate elastic wall stress (UEWS) at room temperature for glass fibre reinforced epoxy (GRE) composite pipes. The model developed, predicts the stress-strain response caused by the combined, static and cyclic of UEWS loading taking into effects of transverse matrix cracking within the laminates. The procedure, although not a standard method, seems to provide a good alternative to the current raw materials' re-qualification procedure delineated in ISO 14692 through ASTM D2992. The effective transverse and shear modulus of the lamina due to increasing presence of transverse matrix cracking were estimated. Classical laminate analysis was then applied to compute the corresponding ply properties as a function of increasing stress and strain. The model shows a good agreement with the experimental results of multiaxial UEWS tests on ±55° filament wound glass-reinforced epoxy pipes.

The post-fire integrity of pultruded phenolic/glass and polyester/glass floor gratings, of the type used offshore and elsewhere, was investigated. The aim was to determine whether glass/phenolic gratings may be safely walked on, post-fire, by offshore workers and fire-fighting teams. The load to be resisted was identified as equivalent to a running person carrying a load, the combined mass being 150 kg. The maximum resulting dynamic strains were determined by strain gauges on the undersides of the individual beam elements of gratings. This enabled target values of post-fire bending resistance to be identified. Individual beam elements from the gratings were exposed to heat fluxes of 12.5, 37.5 and 100 kW/m2 using a propane burner, for periods up to 16 min, after which the residual strength was measured. Phenolic gratings showed longer ignition times, with lower flame and smoke emission, as well as greater post-fire strength compared to polyester ones. At the lowest flux, 12.5 kW/m2, all gratings remained serviceable beyond 16 min. At higher heat fluxes, the phenolic gratings retained some post-fire strength, assisted by the formation of a carbonaceous char binding the fibres. However, this was somewhat below the target level. A study of the effect of testing speed indicated that fire-exposed gratings are not especially strain-rate sensitive.

This paper presents a modelling approach to analyse the protection provided by passive and intumescent surface coatings on glass fibre reinforced laminate substrates exposed to fire. The modelling involves a multi-stage analytical approach: (i) thermal analysis of heat transfer from the fire through the surface insulation coating, which includes decomposition and expansion in the case of an intumescent material; (ii) thermal–chemical analysis of heat transfer through the fibreglass laminate substrate (beneath the fire protective coating), including decomposition of the polymer matrix; and (iii) thermal–mechanical analysis of softening and failure of the laminate under in-plane tension or compression loading. The modelling approach is validated using experimental temperature and strength data from fire structural tests performed on woven glass–vinyl ester laminates insulated with passive (ceramic fibre mat) or organic intumescent surface coatings.

The mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties of a 3D porous Pennisetum purpureum (PP)/polylactic acid (PLA) based scaffold were investigated. In this study, a scaffold containing P. purpureum and PLA was produced using the solvent casting and particulate leaching method. P. purpureum fibre, also locally known as Napier grass, is composed of 46% cellulose, 34% hemicellulose, and 20% lignin. PLA composites with various P. purpureum contents (10%, 20%, and 30%) were prepared and subsequently characterised. The morphologies, structures and thermal behaviours of the prepared composite scaffolds were characterised using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The morphology was studied using FESEM; the scaffold possessed 70-200μm-sized pores with a high level of interconnectivity. The moisture content and mechanical properties of the developed porous scaffolds were further characterised. The P. purpureum/PLA scaffold had a greater porosity factor (99%) and compression modulus (5.25MPa) than those of the pure PLA scaffold (1.73MPa). From the results, it can be concluded that the properties of the highly porous P. purpureum/PLA scaffold developed in this study can be controlled and optimised. This can be used to facilitate the construction of implantable tissue-engineered cartilage.

Graphene nanosheets (xGnP) and cup-stacked carbon nanotubes (CSCNT) were used to enhance the mechanical properties of three types of epoxy composites prepared with the following formulations; a). xGnP/epoxy nanocomposite, b) CSCNT/epoxy nanocomposite and c) xGnP-CSCNT/hybrid epoxy nanocomposite). Different weight contents of both xGnP and CSCNT were used to prepare these novel nanocomposites, namely 0 (base tests), 2.5, 4, 5, 6 and 7 wt. %. The principal challenge to the manufacturing processes was to achieve uniform dispersion for both xGnP and CSCNT in the epoxy matrix and the method of Ultra-sonication was used in this work to disperse these two types of nanomaterials in the epoxy. Tensile and flexural tests were conducted to assess the effect of nanoparticle content on the mechanical properties of the composites. The results demonstrate that the tensile strength and elastic modulus increased by approximately 15.62% and 14.17% respectively for the CSCNT/epoxy nanocomposite, 14% and 10.45% respectively for the xGnP/epoxy nanocomposite, and a significant increase in tensile strength of approximately 12.5% for the xGnP-CSCNT/hybrid epoxy nanocomposite. The flexural strength and modulus improved by approximately 28.5% and 25% respectively for the CSCNT/epoxy nanocomposite, while a mechanical property improvement of 21.5% was observed for the xGnP-CSCNT/hybrid epoxy nanocomposite, attained at a somewhat low weigh content of 4 wt. %. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to assess the dispersion of nanomaterials in the epoxy resin which showed a reasonable dispersion of nanoparticles in the resin albeit with some regions of agglomerate nanoparticles.

This article presents relationships for the through-thickness elastic constants of composite laminates, needed for modelling three-dimensional stress problems. Using the individual ply elastic constants together with the in-plane laminate elastic constants (from laminate theory) results in explicit relationships for, ν13, ν23, E3, G13 and G23. The Poisson’s ratio and Young’s modulus expressions apply to all laminate types. The shear modulus relationships apply to balanced laminates, but are extendable to other laminate types. Relationships are developed here for angle-ply, cross-ply and quasi-isotropic laminates. Results are presented for glass/epoxy and carbon/epoxy laminates, above and below the resin Tg. The importance of coupling stresses and their influence on ν13, ν23 and E3 is underlined. It is shown, for instance, that equating the laminate through-thickness modulus to the individual ply value can result in a significant under-estimate.

This paper presents a new modelling approach to analyse the fire structural response of fibre–polymer laminates protected with an intumescent surface coating. The model is designed to predict the temperature, decomposition, softening and failure of laminates with an intumescent coating in fire. The modelling involves a three-stage analytical approach: (i) thermal-chemical analysis of the intumescent coating, (ii) thermal-chemical analysis of heat transfer through the laminate substrate (beneath the intumescent coating), and (iii) thermal-mechanical analysis of the softening and failure of the laminate under tension or compression loading. Fire structural tests were performed on a woven glass/vinyl ester laminate coated with an organic intumescent material to validate the modelling approach. It is shown the model can predict with good accuracy the temperature distribution and swelling of the intumescent coating with increasing exposure time to a constant heat flux. The model can approximate the temperature, softening and failure of the laminate substrate.

This article presents an experimental study of fusion-bonded polypropylene (PP) glass composite joints in the context of small craft manufacture. The objective is to investigate the manufacturing of lap joints and T-joints as a structural part of a small boat and study their properties, because a joining technique is a fundamental requirement of any boat construction technology. Results show that PP interlayers improve bond quality for both lap joints and T-joints and that woven precursor materials are preferred for T-joint manufacturing. It was also found that this technique produces higher lap shear strength values than adhesives and resistance welding, and that pull-out strength values were comparable with those of thermosetting designs, demonstrating that fusion bonding is a suitable joining technique for thermoplastic composite craft.

This paper discusses the characterization and modeling of thermoplastic and thermosetting matrix composites under load in fire. Small-scale tests were found to provide a cost-effective means of characterizing load-bearing behavior of composites in fire and a useful framework for materials development. This paper demonstrates the modeling of thermal and decomposition behavior during the test and the extension of this modeling to include mechanical response and failure behavior. The work necessitated measurement of strength and stiffness over a wide temperature range, with interesting results up to the point of resin decomposition. The approach was applied to three 12 mm thick glass reinforced systems: vinyl ester, polyester, and polypropylene. The laminates were subjected to a one-sided 50 kW·m−2 heat flux, using a propane burner. Thermal behavior was modeled using a simplified version of the Henderson equation to predict the evolution of temperature and residual resin content through the thickness. These parameters were then used, along with a material model, to predict the mechanical response in fire.

This paper presents an experimental investigation of the behaviour of filament wound glass fibre reinforced epoxy (GRE) composite pipe under hydrostatic and biaxial load conditions at temperatures up to 95 °C. The format of the experiments has been chosen to be compatible with the Future Pipe Industries (FPI) procedure using the ultimate elastic wall stress (UEWS) concept in the qualification and production control of GRE. The test appears to provide an attractive alternative to the current 1000 hour test procedure detailed in ASTM D2992 for the detection of manufacturing changes and reconfirmation of the design basis of the pipe. Six different stress ratios ranging from pure axial loading 0:1, 0.5:1, 1:1, 2:1, 4:1 and pure hoop 1:0 loading were tested. Three distinct failure modes were observed: tensile axial failure at pure axial loading, weepage at axial dominated loading from 0.5:1 to 2:1 and localized leakage failure under hoop dominated loading of 4:1 and 1:0. Full tensile–tensile UEWS and leakage based failure envelopes have been developed at a range of temperatures from 20 °C (RT) to 95 °C. Both showed a strong dependence on stress ratio and test temperatures. It was also shown that the UEWS based failure envelope at elevated temperatures generally degraded, except for the 2:1 loading where the UEWS strength increased.

This paper investigates the effects of temperature, heating time and atmosphere on the tensile modulus and strength of thermally-treated E-glass fibres. The heating conditions that were investigated are identical to those used in thermal recycling of waste polymer matrix composite materials, and therefore this study determines the effects of the recycling process conditions on the properties of reclaimed fibreglass. The loss in fibre strength is dependent on the temperature and time of the thermal process, and large strength loss occurs under the heating conditions used for high temperature incineration of polymer composites. A phenomenological model is presented for the residual fibre strength for the temperatures and heating time of the thermal recycling process. The reduction in fibre strength is dependent on the thermal recycling atmosphere under low temperature or short heating time conditions, but at high temperatures the strength loss is the same, regardless of furnace atmosphere (ambient air, dry air or inert gas). Quantitative fractographic analysis of the fibres shows that fracture for all heat treatments is caused by surface flaws. The strength loss is most probably due to structural relaxation during thermal annealing and a secondary effect of adsorbed surface water attacking the glass by thermally-activated stress-corrosion. It is shown that large reductions in fibre strength due to thermal recycling are not recovered during composite manufacture, therefore resulting in composite materials with significantly lower strength. The reduced strength of the composite matches the reduced fibre strength following thermal recycling.

Procedures for qualifying fibreglass pipes are discussed here in relation to industry needs. The ultimate elastic wall stress (UEWS) test appears to provide an efficient means of rating pressure pipe, and indeed vessels, for the case where weepage failure occurs resulting from the accumulation of matrix cracks. The principle behind the UEWS test is to identify, from the pressure–strain response, a pressure level below which damage growth is either negligible or at least sufficiently low to avoid failure within the design life. The version of the UEWS test most often used involves the application of groups of 10 one-minute pressure cycles at increasing pressure values, recording the hoop or axial strain. The onset of non-linearity in the pressure–strain relationship can be accurately determined and enables a safe long term pressure level to be identified. The UEWS test appears to provide a desirable alternative to the currently used procedure laid down in ISO 14692, which involves an expensive series of long term constant pressure tests, as described in ASTM 2992, running for a period in excess of 10 000 h. It is shown here that the UEWS test reflects the cyclic fatigue behaviour of fibreglass pipe, but further work on the relationship between cyclic and static behaviour would be desirable. It has been shown that a Miner’s law approach is effective in modelling damage due to combined static and cyclic effects, and that damage can be directly related to matrix crack growth. This approach could form the basis of a future procedure for describing lifetime behaviour of glass reinforced epoxy pipes under any required combination of static, fatigue, hydrostatic and non-hydrostatic (multiaxial) loading.

This paper reports elevated temperature mechanical property measurements on woven glass fibre/polypropylene composites. Tensile and compressive stress rupture measurements were made on 12 mm thick laminate exposed to 50 kW m−2 heat flux. Behaviour was qualitatively similar to that of thermosetting laminates, but compressive behaviour was significantly inferior, due to a poorer resin–matrix bond, and to the loss of compressive properties at temperatures above the melting point. COM-FIRE, a finite difference implementation of the Henderson Equation, was able to model the thermal and residual resin profiles in the laminate during fire exposure. The thermal predictions were used, in conjunction with the measured mechanical property data, to model changes in elastic properties and stress rupture behaviour in fire. Because of the non-linearity of the tensile stress–strain curves, a 3-parameter model was needed to describe behaviour. In contrast the compressive response could be modelled by a simpler 2-parameter or saw-tooth model.

The effect of heat and fire on the mechanical properties and failure of polymer composite materials used in naval ship structures is investigated. Coupled thermal-mechanical models are presented for predicting the loss in strength and failure of load-bearing polymer laminates when heated from one-side. The thermal component of the models predicts the temperature and decomposition rate of a laminate. Using this information, several mechanical models based on progressive softening analysis or laminate analysis can be used to predict the reduction in strength and time-to-failure. A coupled thermal-mechanical model that is solved using finite element analysis is also presented. Experimental fire-under-load tests are performed on several types of polymer laminate materials to evaluate the accuracy of the models. The tests were performed at different heat flux levels between 10 kW/m2 and 75 kW/m2, which is equivalent to surface temperatures between about 250°C and 700°C. The temperature, mass loss and char formation of a laminate can be accurately predicted for a wide range of thermal conditions using the models. The models can also predict the time-to-failure of laminates under static tension or compression loading. The models presented in this chapter are considered useful analytical tools for naval architects to estimate the loss in mechanical performance and time-to-failure of composite ship materials in fire.

This paper discusses the recycling of thermoplastic composite materials in the context of boatbuilding. Work was carried out on the recycling of an experimental thermoplastic composite rigid inflatable boat, originally built by BVT Surface Fleet and tested in service by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. It was found that a range of useful injection moulding materials could be prepared from the hull material of the craft, demonstrating that structural thermoplastic composites are recyclable in practice as well as in principle, and confirming that they are a sustainable alternative to thermosets.

Delamination damage occurs in carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) as a result of fire exposure, followed by extensive resin decomposition and charring. The initial delaminations are detectable using portable ultrasonic equipment and appear to coincide with the onset of resin decomposition, as measured by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). However, further work is needed to determine the exact temperature for permanent damage. The spread of delaminations through the structure correlates with a reduction in compressive strength which can be described using the 'two-layer' model. Temperature-dependent thermal properties, including anisotropic values of thermal conductivity, enabled the 3-D temperature field to be modelled using a finite element (FE) package. The high in-plane thermal conductivity of CFRP can result in indirect thermal damage in regions adjacent to the zone of fire exposure.

This paper presents a critical review of research progress in modelling the structural response of polymer matrix composites exposed to fire. Models for analysing the thermal, chemical, physical, and failure processes that control the structural responses of laminates and sandwich composite materials in fire are reviewed. Models for calculating the residual structural properties of composites following fire are also described. Progress towards validation of the models by experimental characterisation of the structural properties of composites during and following fire is assessed. Deficiencies in the fire structural models are identified in the paper, which provide the focus for future research in the field.

A coupled thermo-mechanical model is presented for calculating the compressive strength and failure of polymer laminated composites with thermal barrier when exposed to fire. Thermal barriers are used to protect composite structures from fire, and this article presents a model for calculating the improved structural survivability under compression loading. The thermal component of the model predicts the through-thickness temperature profile of the composite when protected from fire using a passive thermal barrier insulation material. The thermal analysis is coupled to a mechanical model that calculates the loss in compressive strength with increasing temperature and heating time. The model predicts the strength loss and failure time of an insulated composite supporting a static compressive load when exposed to fire. The accuracy of the model is evaluated using failure times measured in fire-under-compression load tests on a woven E-glass/vinyl ester composite protected with a passive thermal barrier. The model predicts reductions to the failure time with increasing heat flux (temperature), applied compressive stress, and reduced insulation thickness, and this is confirmed by experimental testing. It is envisaged that the thermo-mechanical model is a useful analytical method to design thermal barrier material systems to protect composite structures exposed to high temperature or fire.

A new model has been developed for the prediction of thermal profiles for fibre reinforced plastic composites exposed to high one sided heat flux. The model involves expressing the thermal diffusivity of the composite as a function of temperature. Apparent thermal diffusivity (ATD) can take into account the decomposition of the resin, which is endothermic, as well as the consequent changes in specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity of the composite. This offers the possibility of significantly simplifying computational procedures needed for modelling thermal behaviour with decomposition. Temperature profiles were measured at different depths through the thickness of a chopped strand mat/polyester composite and compared with the results obtained with the ATD model. The results were also compared with predictions of the COM_FIRE model, a previously developed heat transfer model for fibre reinforced composites in fire, based on the Henderson equation.

This article presents an experimental investigation into the effects of temperature and heating time on the tensile strength and failure mechanisms of glass fibers. The loss in strength of two glass fiber types (E-glass and Advantex®, a boron-free version of E-glass) was investigated at temperatures up to 650 °C and heating times up to 2 h. The tensile properties were measured by fiber bundle testing, and the maximum strength was found to be temperature and time dependent. The higher softening point of the Advantex® fibers is reflected in superior high-temperature performance. A phenomenological model is presented for calculating the residual strength of glass fiber bundles as functions of temperature and time. The strength reduction mechanism was determined by single-fiber testing. Fracture mirror sizes on the E-glass fibers were related to the fiber strength after high-temperature treatment. Based on fracture mirror measurements, it was established that (1) the mirror constant of the glass, which reflects the network structure, does not change during heat treatment and (2) the strength degradation is a result of larger surface flaws present after heat treatment.

A small-scale loading frame was used to apply tensile and compressive stresses to glass vinyl ester and glass polyester laminates in a cone calorimeter under a heat flux of 75kW m−2. It was found, for the first time, that stress has a small but significant effect on the fire reaction properties. Increasing tensile stress increased heat release rate and smoke production, while shortening the time-to-ignition. Compressive stress had the reverse effect. This was attributed to the fact that tensile stress promotes the formation of matrix microcracks, facilitating the evolution of flammable volatiles. This hypothesis is further supported by the observation that stress has the greatest effect on the early heat and smoke release peaks, with a lower effect on the final ‘run-out’ values.

The delivery of the power from remote power generation sites to urban centres is increasingly becoming a challenge for the power industry since the use of traditional power transmission technology, such as overhead cables, is a politically sensitive issue and alternative approaches are sought. This paper reports the findings of a feasibility study into long distance power transmission via small diameter underground tunnels, constructed using trenchless technologies such as horizontal directional drilling or microtunnelling. The study examines the suitability of AC or DC transmission for such underground tunnels, various cooling methods to remove the heat generated in the conductors from electrical losses, type of conductor to be used, and issues concerning conductor installation. As a result of this study a number of technical challenges have been identified that need to be overcome in order to make the method an economically and technically viable option.

A thermal-mechanical model is presented for calculating the residual compressive strength of flammable sandwich composite materials in fire. The model can also estimate the time-to-failure of the laminate face skin to sandwich composites exposed to fire. The model involves a two-stage analysis: thermal modeling and mechanical modeling. The thermal component of the model predicts the temperature profile and amount of decomposition through sandwich composites exposed to one-sided heating by fire. The mechanical component of the model estimates the residual compressive strength of the sandwich composite and the onset of skin failure. The model is tested for sandwich composite materials with combustible glass/ vinyl ester skins and balsa core. Experimental fire tests are performed on the sandwich composites under combined compressive loading and one-sided heating at constant heat flux levels between 10 kW/m 2 (Tmax · 250°C) and 50 kW/m2 (·600°C). The model predicts that the time-to-failure increases with the skin thickness and decreases with an increase to the applied compressive stress or heat flux. The predictions are supported by experimental data from fire-under-load tests. It is envisaged that the model can be used to design sandwich composite materials with improved compressive load capacity in fire.

This paper evaluates the structural performance of flame resistant phenolic matrix composites exposed to fire. Experimental fire tests were performed on a glass-phenolic composite under combined static loading and one-sided radiant heating. The reduction to the tension and compression failure strengths of the phenolic composite was measured in these tests for heat flux conditions ranging from 10 kW/m2 (225 °C) to 75 kW/m2 (700 °C). It was discovered that the failure strengths of the phenolic composite decreased rapidly in the event of fire, particularly under compressive loading when failure occurred more rapidly than under tensile loading. The phenolic composite, despite having high flame resistance, loses strength more rapidly and fails sooner than a more flammable vinyl ester composite. The study shows that greater flammability resistance does not necessarily result in better structural performance in fire. The poor structural performance of the phenolic composite was due to explosive delamination damage and cracking caused by vaporisation of water in the matrix phase. It is shown that removing water from phenolic composites by natural or artificial ageing reduces the incidence of delamination cracking and thereby improves the materials' structural performance in fire. It is concluded that phenolic composites do not provide good structural performance in fire, even though they have low flame and smoke properties. However, reducing the water content in the matrix phase below about 10% can greatly improve the structural performance of phenolic composites during fire.

The composites have wide range of applications in different fields especially in offshore oil and gas industry, where it was used in the areas of pipe works and structural applications. The awareness of utilizing the composite material is still not deployed successfully in the above said fields. Hence an attempt was made to review the effective usage of composite materials in the field of offshore industry and its applications. It was noticed that further improvements in the field of deepwater construction using composite materials is necessary for the betterment of the offshore industry. The challenges for the future in offshore industry will be from shallow to deepwater construction and a probable change of emphasis from topside to subsea application. These challenges bring with them the possibility of greatly increased markets for both glass fiber-based and high-performance composites. Moreover, the development of functional graded composite material is essential for the suitable application and its effective usage. It is concluded that the further research in the field of composite material for the betterment of the offshore industry should be carried out with advanced smart materials.

Fatigue behavior of polyvinylidiene fluoride (PVDF) pipes is investigated under low temperatures to characterize the temperature effects. The analysis included experimental evaluation of fatigue life for test samples taken directly from the manufactured pipes used for service as opposed to compression molded compact tension samples used in previous works. In this test, short sections from an extruded pipe are used to better represent the material service conditions. A compact test chamber was designed to control the test temperature. The samples were loaded into the test rig and allowed to cool for 30 min ensuring a constant and even temperature distribution. Cooling was done in a sealed test chamber using carbon dioxide gas. Two test temperatures of −20 °C and −10 °C were chosen since they represent typical temperature during which failure occurs during actual pipe service in cold environments. Fractured surfaces were inspected and fatigue data were analyzed using a standard procedure for calculation of fatigue life with a semi-elliptical surface crack assumption was performed; from which parameters of the Paris law for fatigue fracture were obtained. Comparing the results with previous works it is found that they capture the trend of the PVDF material behavior for high temperature.

The diffusion of water in an isophthalic polyester glass reinforced composite laminate, typical of marine applications, has been studied through accelerated water uptake tests involving total immersion in seawater at 40 and 60°C. Gravimetric analysis has shown that at 40°C, a Fickean type diffusion is operative with a saturation level of 0·8% whereas at 60°C, a two stage Langmuir type diffusion is operative. The nuclear magnetic resonance technique has also been used in an attempt to image the diffused water and determine its position within the composite. This has revealed that the water concentrates on the fibre/matrix interface and the concentration there is twice that of bulk of the matrix. The diffusion process appears to be aided by 'wicking' along the fibre/matrix interface.

A theoretical and experimental study is presented into the thermal decomposition, softening and failure of polymer matrix laminates under combined compressive loading and one-sided heating to high temperature. A thermo-mechanical model is presented for predicting the time-to-failure of laminates supporting a static compressive stress during one-sided heating. The thermal component of the model predicts the mass loss due to polymer decomposition and through-thickness temperature profile of the hot laminate. The mass loss and temperature predictions are validated against measured data, and the agreement is good. The thermal analysis is coupled to a mechanics-based model that calculates the loss in compressive strength with increasing temperature. The model can also predict the time-to-failure of the hot laminate supporting a static compressive load. The accuracy of the model is evaluated using failure times measured in fire-under-compression load tests on a woven E-glass/vinyl ester laminate. The experimental time-to-failure values decreased with increasing heat flux (temperature) and applied compressive stress, and the model can accurately predict these failure times. The paper also examines the dimensional expansion, out-of-plane distortion and failure mechanism of laminates under combined compressive loading and heating. It is envisaged that the thermo-mechanical model is a useful tool to estimate the failure time of compressively loaded composite structures exposed to high temperature or fire.

The failure of polyester and phenolic pultrusions under tensile and compressive load and a one sided heat flux of 50 kW m 22 has been studied. A thermal/mechanical model, based on the Henderson equation and laminate theory, has been used to model their behaviour. In tension, significant load bearing capacity was retained over a period of 800 s, due to the residual strength of the glass fibres. However, pultruded composites are susceptible to compressive failure in fire, due to the loss of properties when the resin Tg is reached. The fire reaction properties reported here showed the phenolic pultrusions to perform better than polyesters in all fire reaction properties (time to ignition, heat release, smoke and toxic product generation). The measurements under load in fire showed that the phenolic system decayed at a slower rate than the polyester, due mainly to the very shallow glass transition of the phenolic, but also the char forming characteristic of the phenolic. The behaviour described here for phenolic pultrusions is superior to that reported for some phenolic laminates, the main reason probably being their lower water

The present paper describes a creep rupture investigation on aramid fibre yarns (Twaron 1000 and Kevlar 29) supplied by Teijin and Du Pont respectively. The ISO 9080 extrapolation procedure, which was developed for thermoplastic pipe materials, was used to model and interpret the results. The 4 parameter version of this procedure fitted the results well and gave useful predictions of the long term stress rupture behaviour, lending confidence to existing qualification procedures for the use of aramid fibre in reinforced thermoplastic pipe (RTP), and other applications involving continuous high tensile loads. Creep strain measurements on yarns showed a near constant degree of creep deformation per decade. Although they may involve some of the same mechanisms the creep and stress rupture processes appear to operate independently and on different time scales. It was found that creep deformation in aramid yarns is unlikely to be a significant problem at stress levels corresponding to a 20 year lifetime.

The Cole–Cole (C–C) and Havriliak–Negami models respectively, have been identified as suitable for the parametric modelling of time and temperature behaviour of composites with symmetrical and asymmetrical retardation time spectra. For C–C a shortcut method is proposed to enable the prediction of creep behaviour from dynamic mechanical and thermal analysis (DMTA) data. The C–C plot provides a method of characterising the retardation time distribution, independently of any time–temperature equivalence relationship. The isophthalic polyester resin and composites examined in the present study all showed symmetrical retardation time spectra (in log time) and their DMTA behaviour was well modelled using C–C, with the added assumption of Arrhenius relaxation kinetics. The proposed creep model also worked well for these materials.

This paper presents a model for the stiffness terms of composite sandwich panels with structured cores (referred to as ‘z-core’ panels). Truss-cores, corrugated-cores and double-corrugated cores containing a polymeric foam were considered. The model was validated, both through finite element simulation and through comparison with the results of experimental three point bend tests on panels. A parametric study was performed to assess the performance of the different reinforced panel configurations.

A thermal-mechanical model is presented to calculate the tensile strength and time-to-failure of glass fiber reinforced polymer composites in fire. The model considers the main thermal processes and softening (mechanical) processes of fiberglass composites in fire that ensure an accurate calculation of tensile strength and failure time. The thermal component of the model considers the effects of heat conduction, matrix decomposition and volatile out-gassing on the temperature—time response of composites. The mechanical component of the model considers the tensile softening of the polymer matrix and glass fibers in fire, with softening of the fibers analyzed as a function of temperature and heating time. The model can calculate the tensile strength of a hot, decomposing composite exposed to fire up to the onset of flaming combustion. The thermal-mechanical model is confined to hot, smoldering fiberglass composites prior to ignition. Experimental fire tests are performed on dry fiberglass fabric and fiberglass/vinyl ester composite specimens to validate the model. It is shown that the model gives an approximate estimate of the tensile strength and time-to-failure of the materials when exposed to one-sided heating at a constant heat flux. It is envisaged the model can be used to calculate the tensile softening and time-to-failure of glass—polymer composite structures exposed to fire.

Thermo-mechanical models are presented for predicting the time-to-failure of polymer laminates loaded in tension or compression and exposed to one-sided radiant heating by fire. Time-to-failure is defined as the time duration that a polymer laminate can support an externally applied load in a fire without failing. The models predict the temperature rise and through-thickness temperature profile in a hot decomposing laminate exposed to fire. Using this thermal data, mechanics-based models based on residual strength analysis are used to calculate the time-to-failure. A preliminary evaluation of the accuracy of the models is presented using failure times measured in fire-under-load tests on a woven glass/vinyl ester laminate. The model was evaluated at temperatures between ∼250 and 800 °C by testing the laminate at heat flux levels between 10 and 75 kW/m2. It was found that the time-to-failure of the laminate decreased with increasing heat flux and increasing applied stress for both the compression and tension load conditions. The tests also revealed that the failure times were much shorter (by about one order of magnitude) when the laminate was loaded in compression. The models can predict the time-to-failure with good accuracy for both compression and tension loading for certain heat flux levels. However, because the models have only been evaluated for one type of laminate (woven glass/vinyl ester), further evaluation is necessary for other laminate systems. The paper also presents new experimental insights into the strengthening mechanisms of laminates at high temperature.

This paper describes the experimental and modelling results of a study on the vacuum consolidation of commingled thermoplastic composites. Samples of Twintex® glass/polypropylene (GFPP) fabric were melted, consolidated and cooled to room temperature by different cooling routes. The temperature field and the occurrence of a plateau in the through-thickness cooling profiles were modelled by coupling a non-isothermal crystallisation kinetics model with the energy equation, solved numerically using temperature-independent thermal properties for the resin. The model correctly predicted the onset of crystallisation and the degree of undercooling over a range of cooling rates. Predictions for the crystallisation rate, half-time, and temperature range agreed well with the literature data available.

The relationship between heat release rate and other fire reaction properties of fibre reinforced polymer composite materials is investigated. The heat release rate and fire reaction properties of thermoset matrix composites reinforced with combustible fibres (aramid, extended-chain polyethylene) or non-combustible fibres (glass, carbon) were determined over a range of heat flux levels using the oxygen consumption cone calorimeter technique. The fire reaction properties that were measured were time-to-ignition, smoke density, carbon monoxide yield, carbon dioxide yield, mass loss rate and total mass loss. It is discovered that these reaction properties (apart from ignition time) are linearly related to the heat release rate for composites containing non-combustible fibres. When the reinforcement is combustible, however, the heat release rate only appears to be related to the carbon monoxide yield, mass loss rate and (in some cases) smoke density. This study clearly shows the importance of the relationship between heat release rate with smoke density and carbon monoxide yield, the two reaction properties that influence the survival of humans in fire.

An experimental and modeling study is conducted on the vacuum consolidation of commingled glass/thermoplastic composites as part of a larger project on manufacturing large monolithic structures from these precursors. Two polyethylene terephthalate (PET) matrices are employed: semicrystalline PET and an amorphous PET copolymer. Samples of commingled fabric are processed into consolidated composites by means of both a convective oven, as will be used in practice, and a small-scale experimental characterization rig, designed to measure consolidation accurately. The samples are then cooled to room temperature. In this article, the thermal and consolidation characterization of these fabrics is reported. Thermally induced consolidation is observed to occur in two stages: a low temperature solid state de-bulking near to Tg, followed by full melt impregnation at a higher temperature. Both stages are modeled separately using an empirical model based on the Kamal equation. The measured consolidation versus time profiles suggest a rapid impregnation and wetting of the fibers, occurring near to the melting point of the semicrystalline polymer. The PET melting endotherm and crystallization exotherm have little effect on the observed thermal profiles, suggesting that these effects can possibly be neglected when modeling the process.

The present study discusses the possibilities offered by ramp pressure loading tests to generate data for determining the long term load-bearing characteristics of plastic pipe systems. In addition to ramp pressure loading, procedures are also considered where the pressure is held at a constant value for a period of time, after which the product is subjected to a ramped pressure burst test. The method discussed relies on the material in question obeying Miner's Law in its static fatigue behaviour. The pipe system to which the procedure has been applied is Reinforced Thermoplastic Pipe (RTP), in which the reinforcement is aramid fibre. However, the results are expected to apply to any polymeric system where there is evidence of conformity to Miner's Law. A set of ramp loading tests, and constant pressure plus burst tests are reported and compared with the results of conventional 'constant pressure' stress rupture tests and a method is proposed for converting these results into 'equivalent' constant pressure values. The results obtained on RTP using this new approach lie close to those generated using constant pressure.

The present study describes the results of a pilot study to carry out the initial development and testing of a new class of high-pressure all thermoplastic pipe, using recycled PET as reinforcement. A prototype pipe design has been manufactured and initial qualification testing carried out demonstrating a new high added value product application for recycled materials.

Laminate analysis is used to model a loaded composite plate under one-sided heat flux. The input to the laminate analysis comes from a thermal/ablative model, which predicts the temperature evolution through the thickness. It also gives the profile of residual resin content, which reflects the extent of thermal damage. Relationships are proposed to enable the computation of the elastic constants and other mechanical properties as functions of temperature and resin content. The model was applied to a 12 mm thick woven glass/polyester laminate exposed to a heat flux of 75 kW m 2. The laminate A, B, and D matrices were modeled, along with the variation of failure loads in compression and tension. The predictions agreed well with experimental values for compression of a constrained plate. Both the local buckling load, which is proportional to √D1 D2, and the compressive failure load fall rapidly on exposure to heat flux. The bending/tensile coupling matrix, B, which is zero initially, becomes finite due to the asymmetric thermal profile, then declines as the thermal front progresses. For tensile loading, the residual properties after fire were accurately modeled, but the fall in tensile failure load was somewhat over-predicted.

This paper reports on changes to the mechanical properties of woven glass laminates with polyester, vinyl ester and phenolic resins during fire exposure. Two sets of experiments were carried out. First, unstressed laminates were exposed to a constant one-sided heat flux (50 kW m 2) for various times, and the residual post-fire strength at room temperature was reported. In a second series of experiments, laminates were tested under load. The times corresponding to a given loss of properties were 2-3 times shorter than in the previous case. It was found in both cases that modes of loading involving compressive stress were more adversely affected by fire exposure than those involving tension. A simple ‘two-layer’ model is proposed, in which the laminate is assumed to comprise (i) an unaffected layer with virgin properties and (ii) a heat-affected layer with zero properties. For residual properties after fire, the ‘effective’ thickness of undamaged laminate was calculated using this model and compared with measured values. A thermal model was employed to predict the temperature and the residual resin profile through the laminate versus time. Comparing the model predictions with the measured values of effective laminate thickness enabled simple criteria to be developed for determining the position of the ‘boundary’ between heat-affected and undamaged material. For post-fire integrity of unloaded laminates, this boundary corresponds to a Residual Resin Content (RRC) of 80%, a criterion that applies to all the resin types tested. For polyester laminate under load in fire, the boundary in compressive loading (buckling failure) appears to correspond to the point where the resin reaches 170 C. In tensile loading, significant strength is retained, because of the residual strength of the glass reinforcement. The model was used to produce predictions for ‘generic’ composite laminates in fire.

A model for the stress-strain behavior of fiber composites with matrix cracks is presented and applied to the deformation of fiber reinforced composite pipes under different combinations of hoop and axial stress. The model provides a good description of the nonlinear stress-strain relationship that develops in composites when the matrix is damaged by the progressive nucleation of microcracks during loading. Ply properties are expressed as a function of crack density, calculated as a function of increasing stress using the shear-lag approximation. The predictions are in very good agreement with data from multiaxial tests on ±55° filament wound glass-reinforced epoxy pipes.

A thermomechanical modelling approach is proposed for estimating the residual properties of fibre reinforced polymer composites damaged by fire. The modelling was carried out in two parts: (i) prediction of the extent of thermal decomposition (or charring) using a thermal model; and (ii) prediction of the post-fire behaviour using a two layer model that combines the properties of the undamaged laminate and the residual char. Fire experiments were performed on glass-polyester, vinyl ester, and phenolic laminates using a cone calorimeter operated at heat fluxes in the range 25-100 kW m -2 , for times up to 30 min. After cooling to room temperature the thickness of the thermal damage layer was determined, along with values of the residual tensile, compressive and flexural properties. For the 'two layer' model it was found that the effective boundary between char material and undamaged laminate corresponded to the point where the residual resin content (RRC) of the laminate was 80%. Surprisingly, this value was found to hold for all three resin types tested. Using this RRC value, excellent agreement was found between the measured and predicted post-fire char thickness and the residual mechanical properties. The approach presented is the first reliable method for accurately predicting the residual properties of composites after fire.

We present early results from the JCMT (James Clerk Maxwell Telescope) Plane Survey (JPS), which has surveyed the northern inner Galactic plane between longitudes ℓ = 7° and ℓ = 63° in the 850-μm continuum with SCUBA-2 (Submm Common-User Bolometer Array 2), as part of the JCMT Legacy Survey programme. Data from the ℓ = 30° survey region, which contains the massive-star-forming regions W43 and G29.96, are analysed after approximately 40 per cent of the observations had been completed. The pixel-to-pixel noise is found to be 19 mJy beam-1 after a smooth over the beam area, and the projected equivalent noise levels in the final survey are expected to be around 10 mJy beam-1. An initial extraction of compact sourceswas performed using the FELLWALKER method, resulting in the detection of 1029 sources above a 5σ surface-brightness threshold. The completeness limits in these data are estimated to be around 0.2 Jy beam-1 (peak flux density) and 0.8 Jy (integrated flux density) and are therefore probably already dominated by source confusion in this relatively crowded section of the survey. The flux densities of extracted compact sources are consistent with those of matching detections in the shallower APEX (Atacama Pathfinder Experiment) Telescope Large Area Survey of the Galaxy (ATLASGAL) survey.We analyse the virial and evolutionary state of the detected clumps in the W43 star-forming complex and find that they appear younger than the Galactic-plane average. © 2015 The Authors.

Composite repairs are emerging as a viable and often preferred alternative to metallic repairs in the oil and gas industry. The use of composite presents key advantages over metal, including reduced weight, smaller relative density with water and greater corrosion resistance. This chapter reviews current and emerging methods for composite repairs of pipelines, along with repair codes, and presents in-depth discussions on two different repair solutions: clamp and overwrap. It is shown that these composite repairs allow rehabilitation of wall thinning and through-wall damage above water, in the splash zone and subsea, over a range of conditions.

This paper relates to the ‘netting–analysis’ approach, often used in calculations of the behaviour of helically wound reinforced pressure vessels and tubes. Numerical calculation of the stress–strain relations for angle ply composite laminates often gives the impression of unexpected instability in the underlying equations. For instance, when the in–plane principal stresses are in the ratio 2:1 and the fibres are inclined at an angle close to θ ± arctan 2, the stress–strain relations are very sensitive to the value of θ and to the relative stiffness of the fibres and matrix. There is a simple explanation for this, which is most clearly understood by developing analytical approximations for the stress–strain relations. It is shown that the stable angle of inclination of the fibres, where no strain–induced fibre rotations occur, deviates from the so–called ‘ideal’ fibre angle predicted by netting analysis by an amount that depends on the matrix–to–reinforcement–stiffness ratio. When the initial angle of inclination of the fibres deviates from the stable angle, the application of strain produces fibre rotation and nonlinear stress–strain relations result. Analytical expressions for the stress–strain relations have been obtained; they show the interaction of the parameters that control the shape of the stress–strain curves.

Novel recycling technology has resulted in a new type of E-glass fibre product, Fiberlets, recovered from fibre manufacturers' in house waste. An interesting characteristic is its low aspect ratio, which gives it the ability to pack efficiently, enabling high glass content products to be achieved without an unduly large increase in viscosity that could affect processability. This paper reports an initial study, which shows that the material can be used in both thermosetting and thermoplastic moulding materials. Synergistic effects have been found with combinations of Fiberlets and conventional short fibre reinforcement in bulk moulding compounds. In thermoplastic moulding materials, benefits include improvements in modulus and creep, with the possibility of making readily processable compounds with high inorganic content. Applications therefore include cost effective bulk moulding compounds and high glass content thermoplastic moulding materials with improved creep behaviour. Several other uses ar...

Thermoplastic filament winding with in line melt impregnation has been investigated for the manufacture of continuous glass fibre reinforced thermoplastic pipes. With polyethylene matrixes it was found that the high melt viscosity hindered full melt impregnation and resulted in high pull forces in the case of pipe grade polyethylene. Using a lower viscosity polyethylene it was possible to operate the melt impregnation process, but the product obtained exhibited a high void content. Surprisingly, it was found that filament winding resulted in a considerable decrease in void content, to an acceptable level. It was found possible to wind good quality pipes and achieve high failure pressures that fully reflected the strength of the reinforcement.The non-linear strain response of glass–polyethylene pipes can be modelled using laminate theory modified to take account of the non-linearity of the matrix and the change in fibre angle that occurs as the pipe deforms.