Glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) composite material is often utilized in marine applications for the construction of boats and ships. In this application it is a usual procedure to protect the material with a layer of gel-coat, but if the gel-coat breaks the material would be in direct contact with a humid environment. The main objective of this study was to understand the degradation that sea-water causes on GFRP mechanical properties. The article deals with two common resin systems in marine applications, i.e. polyester and vinylester, and reports the results of quasi-static and vibration tests at different sea-water exposure times, and fatigue tests in dry and wet environments of unexposed specimens and specimens aged in sea water for 22-weeks. The results show degradation of the material in terms of ultimate stress in the case of quasi-static loading, and no appreciable degradation on the fatigue loading case. Vibration tests demonstrated a stable flexural modulus during the water exposure period.

Poodts E. , Minak G. , Zucchelli A. (2013). Impact of sea-water on the quasi static and fatigue flexural properties of GFRP. COMPOSITE STRUCTURES, 97, 222-230 [10.1016/j.compstruct.2012.10.021].

Impact of sea-water on the quasi static and fatigue flexural properties of GFRP

POODTS, EZEQUIEL;MINAK, GIANGIACOMO;ZUCCHELLI, ANDREA
2013

Abstract

Glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) composite material is often utilized in marine applications for the construction of boats and ships. In this application it is a usual procedure to protect the material with a layer of gel-coat, but if the gel-coat breaks the material would be in direct contact with a humid environment. The main objective of this study was to understand the degradation that sea-water causes on GFRP mechanical properties. The article deals with two common resin systems in marine applications, i.e. polyester and vinylester, and reports the results of quasi-static and vibration tests at different sea-water exposure times, and fatigue tests in dry and wet environments of unexposed specimens and specimens aged in sea water for 22-weeks. The results show degradation of the material in terms of ultimate stress in the case of quasi-static loading, and no appreciable degradation on the fatigue loading case. Vibration tests demonstrated a stable flexural modulus during the water exposure period.
2013
Poodts E. , Minak G. , Zucchelli A. (2013). Impact of sea-water on the quasi static and fatigue flexural properties of GFRP. COMPOSITE STRUCTURES, 97, 222-230 [10.1016/j.compstruct.2012.10.021].
Poodts E. ; Minak G. ; Zucchelli A.
File in questo prodotto:
Eventuali allegati, non sono esposti

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11585/133213
 Attenzione

Attenzione! I dati visualizzati non sono stati sottoposti a validazione da parte dell'ateneo

Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 36
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 30
social impact