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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Geoff Gibson, Dr Peter Wright, Professor Adrian Mouritz
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A thermomechanical modelling approach is proposed for estimating the residual properties of fibre reinforced polymer composites damaged by fire. The modelling was carried out in two parts: (i) prediction of the extent of thermal decomposition (or charring) using a thermal model; and (ii) prediction of the post-fire behaviour using a two layer model that combines the properties of the undamaged laminate and the residual char. Fire experiments were performed on glass-polyester, vinyl ester, and phenolic laminates using a cone calorimeter operated at heat fluxes in the range 25-100 kW m(-2), for times up to 30 min. After cooling to room temperature the thickness of the thermal damage layer was determined, along with values of the residual tensile, compressive and flexural properties. For the 'two layer' model it was found that the effective boundary between char material and undamaged laminate. corresponded to the point where the residual resin content (RRC) of the. laminate was 80%. Surprisingly, this value was found to hold for all three resin types tested. Using this RRC value, excellent agreement was found between the measured and predicted post-fire char thickness and the residual mechanical properties. The approach presented is the first reliable method for accurately predicting the residual properties of composites after fire.
Author(s): Wright PNH; Gibson AG; Mouritz AP; Wu YS; Mathys Z; Gardiner CP
Publication type: Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)
Publication status: Published
Conference Name: Plastics, Rubber and Composites: 9th International Conference on Fibre Reinforced Composites
Year of Conference: 2003
Pages: 81-90
ISSN: 1465-8011
Publisher: Maney Publishing
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/146580103225009040
DOI: 10.1179/146580103225009040
Library holdings: Search Newcastle University Library for this item
ISBN: 17432898
