Seawater Effects on Transverse Tensile Properties of a Carbon/Vinylester Composite

Abstract

The effect of seawater immersion on the transverse tensile modulus and strength of a carbon/vinylester composite has been analyzed using micromechanics. Unit cell modeling was conducted on a representative volume element of a transverse section of the composite using finite element analysis (FEA). Predictions from FEA and simple micromechanics models were compared to experimental values of transverse tensile modulus and strength measured at dry and seawater saturated conditions. The FEA over predicted modulus, and under predicted strength both at dry and seawater saturated conditions. The measured modulus only slightly exceeds the lower bound estimate for both the dry and seawater saturated composite which indicates inadequate load transfer between fiber and matrix. The conservative FEA strength predictions are most likely due to the assumption of a regular square packing geometry of the fibers. Predictions of strength of the composite using the Cooper-Kelly micromechanical model were in relatively close agreement with test results. Below is a set of instructions for preparing your paper in a format suitable for the intended media for these proceedings. It is most important that you follow these guidelines as closely as possible and adhere to the margins (discussed below) for overall consistency and format relationship to all other papers in the intended proceedings. Print or type text as close to the margins as possible without going beyond these margins.