Evaluation of Operational Durability of Heatable Composite Laminate Panel Used as Interior Material in Railway Vehicle

Due to the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the risk of respiratory diseases and the importance of their prevention have increased significantly. In particular, the spread of respiratory viruses in a densely populated, close, and enclosed environment such as public transportation is highly likely. The railway sector is no exception, and various efforts are being made to prevent the spread of the virus. However, the heating system in railway vehicles is basically an air conditioning method that forcibly circulates dry, hot air, making it a very vulnerable environment for the spread of respiratory viruses. Recently, to address this problem, research has been conducted on developing a composite laminate with a heat-generating function to be used as an interior material in railway vehicles. This composite laminate has been shown to have good radiant heating performance. However, long-term exposure to high temperatures during heating may cause delamination or damage to the composite, affecting its thermal and mechanical performances. Therefore, in this study, the operational durability of the heatable composite laminate panel was evaluated in terms of its thermal and mechanical performance.