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: LeBlanc, James, Cavallaro, Paul, Torres, Jahn, Ponte, David, Warner, Eric, Chenwi, Irine, Shukla, Aun
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: DigitalCommons@URI 2021
• Subjects: Arctic
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/mcise_facpubs/50; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlmm.2021.05.001; https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/context/mcise_facpubs/article/1049/viewcontent/Shukla_EffectsWaterSaturation_2021.pdf

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.