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Mechanical Property Degradation of Naval Composite Materials

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Abstract

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.

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Notes

  1. In the model the fiber reinforcement in the laminate is assumed to be thermally stable, and does not decompose with the evolution or absorption of heat. This assumption is valid for laminates containing non-combustible fibers (e.g. glass, basalt, silica). It is possible to calculate the temperature of laminates containing combustible fibers (e.g. aramid, polyethylene) using an expanded form of the analysis presented here, although this case is not considered in the paper.

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Acknowledgements

This research was performed as part of a research project (P2.1.1) within the Cooperative Research Centre for Advanced Composite Structures (CRC-ACS). The study was supported by the United States Office of Naval Research (Grant No. N00014-04-10026) under the direction of Dr L. Couchman. One of us, AGG, would also like to acknowledge the support of the UK EPSRC. The authors thank Luke Bond (CRC-ACS) for conducting the elevated temperature tests and Peter Tkatchyk (RMIT) for constructing the radiant heat flux test apparatus and for assistance when conducting the tests. The technical assistance of Sarina Russo (DSTO) in measuring the temperature–time response of the laminates is also acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia

    A. P. Mouritz & S. Feih

  2. Defence Science & Technology Organisation, Melbourne, Australia

    Z. Mathys

  3. University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Newcastle, UK

    A. G. Gibson

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  1. A. P. Mouritz
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  2. S. Feih
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  3. Z. Mathys
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  4. A. G. Gibson
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Correspondence to A. P. Mouritz.

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Mouritz, A.P., Feih, S., Mathys, Z. et al. Mechanical Property Degradation of Naval Composite Materials. Fire Technol 47, 913–939 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10694-009-0125-5

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