Post-fire mechanical properties of sandwich composite structures. (15th November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Anjang, A.; Chevali, V.S.; Lattimer, B.Y.; Case, S.W.; Feih, S.; Mouritz, A.P.
• Is Part Of: Composite structures. Volume 132(2016)
• Page Start: 1019
• Page End: 1028
• Publication Date: 2015-11-15
• Subjects: Sandwich composite -- Fire -- Modelling -- Damage -- Mechanical properties; Composite construction -- Periodicals; Composites -- Périodiques; 624.18
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2015.07.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0263-8223

Abstract

Abstract: A thermal–mechanical model for calculating the residual stiffness and strength of fire-exposed sandwich composite structures is presented. The model computes the unsteady-state heat flow and decomposition of a sandwich composite exposed to one-sided radiant heating representative of a fire scenario. The model also computes the residual tension and compression properties of a fire-exposed sandwich composite at room temperature. The accuracy of the model is assessed using post-fire stiffness and failure stress property data for a sandwich composite beam consisting of face skins of E-glass/vinyl ester laminate and a core of balsa wood. Experimental testing reveals that the residual tension and compression properties of the sandwich composite decrease rapidly due mainly to thermal decomposition to the fire-exposed skin. It is demonstrated that the model can accurately predict the residual stiffness and strength properties of fire-exposed sandwich composites. The model reveals that the post-fire tension properties are controlled by char damage to the entire sandwich composite whereas the post-fire compression properties are only dependent on charring to the front skin, resulting in a more rapid loss in stiffness and strength than the tension properties.