Model Verification and Determination of Temperature-Dependent Mechanical Deformations of Short Glass Fiber/Vinyl Ester Composite by Using Laser Extensometer.

Nowadays, it is a big challenge to measure the accurate mechanical deformation of FRP composites experimentally at high temperature by using direct contact-type strain indicators. The premature failure or surface damage of the composite samples due to variation of temperature restricts the use of conventional direct strain measurement systems. Additionally, the theoretical models are still under development to determine the temperature-dependent mechanical deformations of the FRP composites. Therefore, in this research work, an attempt was taken to measure the temperature-dependent mechanical deformation of the manufactured GF/VE composites experimentally by using a noncontact-type laser extensometer. The experimental results were also validated with the Friend's model by emphasizing the matrix's strengthening mechanism. Moreover, the temperature-dependent static mechanical, dynamic mechanical and fracture toughness of the GF/VE and pure VE composites were studied experimentally to show the overall deformation mechanism of a short fiber-reinforced polymer composites. The degradation mechanism of the GF/VE composites was also examined by using a microscopic study (FE-SEM) of the fractured samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]