Predicting compression failure of composite laminates in fire

• Published in: Composites. Part A, Applied science and manufacturing Vol. 43; no. 5; pp. 773 - 782
• Main Authors: Summers, P.T., Lattimer, B.Y., Case, S., Feih, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2012
• Subjects: A. Polymer–matrix composites (PMCs); C. Analytical modeling; C. Computational modeling; equations; Fire; heat transfer; modulus of elasticity; polymers; prediction; pyrolysis; temperature; testing; A. Polymer–matrix composites (PMCs); C. Analytical modeling; C. Computational modeling; Fire
• ISSN: 1359-835X; 1878-5840
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesa.2012.02.003

A thermo-structural model was developed and validated to predict the failure of compressively loaded fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) laminates during one-sided heating from a fire. The model consists of a one-dimensional pyrolysis model to predict the thermal response of a decomposing material and an integral structural model based on the bending equation. The thermo-structural model predicts temperatures, out-of-plane deflections, and compressive failure of laminates exposed to fire conditions. Model results were validated with intermediate-scale compression load failure tests with a one-sided heat flux exposure. Through a sensitivity analysis of the model predictions to input parameters, the residual elastic modulus was determined to be of utmost importance to both prediction of out-of-plane deflection and time-to-failure.