RESIDUAL STRENGTH OF CHOPPED STRAND MAT GLASS FIBRE/EPOXY COMPOSITE STRUCTURES: EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE AND WATER ABSORPTION

The residual strength of chopped strand mat glass fibre/epoxy composites following exposure to different hygrothermal conditions was investigated. All residual tests were carried out according to ASTM D 3479 and D 3039 on tension-tension fatigue with a frequency of 5 Hz, a stress ratio of R= 0.5and maximum stress σmax = 60 MPa. The residual strength curves were used to investigate the strength of chopped strand mat glass fibre/epoxy under the effect of temperature and the interactive environment of water absorption and temperature. The results showed that the chopped strand mat glass fibre/epoxy had high resistance toward tension-tension fatigue loading. However, the degradation of the tensile residual strength of chopped strand mat glass fibre/epoxy was significant with high water absorption at an elevated temperature.