Low Temperature Seawater Effects on the Mechanical, Fracture, and Dynamic Behavior of E-Glass and Carbon Fiber Laminates

Abstract

The mechanical behavior of E-Glass/Epoxy and Carbon Fiber/Epoxy laminates when exposed to low temperature and prolonged submergence operating environments has been investigated through a detailed experimental study. The temperature range which was studied consisted of room temperature (20 °C) to −2 °C, the lowest temperature expected in a submerged ocean environment. Mechanical characterization of each material has been conducted through tensile, compression and short beam shear testing. Additionally, the influence of temperature on the Mode I fracture performance of these laminates was evaluated through Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) tests. Furthermore, a Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA) was employed to evaluate the structural behavior of these laminates under a range of frequency loading and temperatures. A transition between a matrix-dominated to laminate-dominated responses as functions of strain rate were identified. The current study has resulted in the mechanical characterization of E-Glass/Epoxy and Carbon Fiber/Epoxy laminates as a function of temperature ranging from room temperature to low temperature sea water conditions. The experimental results show a dependence on the static, fracture, and dynamic properties of these laminates.