Accelerated testing for long-term fatigue strength of various FRP laminates for marine use

The prediction of long-term fatigue life of various FRP laminates combined with resins, fibers and fabrics for marine use under temperature and water environments were performed by our developed accelerated testing methodology based on the time-temperature superposition principle (TTSP). The five kinds of FRP laminates were prepared under three water absorption conditions of Dry, Wet and Wet + Dry after molding. The three-point bending constant strain rate (CSR) and fatigue tests for these FRP laminates at three conditions of water absorption were carried out at various temperatures and loading rates. As results, the mater curves of fatigue strength as well as CSR strength for these FRP laminates at three water absorption conditions are constructed by using the test data based on TTSP. It is possible to predict the long-term fatigue life for these FRP laminates under an arbitrary temperature and water absorption conditions by using the master curves. The characteristics of time, temperature and water absorption dependencies of flexural CSR and fatigue strengths of these FRP laminates are clarified. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.