Effects of water saturation and low temperature coupling on the mechanical behavior of carbon and E-Glass epoxy laminates

• Published in: International Journal of Lightweight Materials and Manufacture
• Main Authors: James LeBlanc, Paul Cavallaro, Jahn Torres, David Ponte, Eric Warner, Irine Chenwi, Arun Shukla
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2021
• Subjects: Composite material; Low temperature; Mechanical characterization; Water absorption; Fracture; Technology; T; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlmm.2021.05.001; https://doaj.org/article/fd98811bb90944d4aa7942578705da90

An experimentally based study has been conducted to quantify the effects of coupled water saturation and low temperatures on the quasi-static and dynamic mechanical behavior of E-Glass and Carbon Epoxy laminates. The relative performance of the materials as a function of water saturation and decreasing temperature was characterized through detailed experiments, specifically in-plane (tensile/compressive) and shear material properties, static and dynamic Mode-I fracture, and impact/flexure after impact strength. In the investigation temperatures from Room Temperature (20 °C) down to arctic seawater and extreme ocean depth conditions (−2 °C) were evaluated. The materials utilized in the study, Carbon/Epoxy and E-glass/Epoxy, are chosen due to their primary interest to the underwater vehicle and marine industry communities. The results of the quasi-static and dynamic material experiments show that all properties are affected by both water saturation and decreasing temperature, although the trends are specific to the property under consideration.