ABSTRACT:

Plastic composites made of fiber reinforcements are being increasingly used for structural applications. The widespread use is motivated primarily by their light weight and corrosion resistance. Low-cost, mass-produced pultruded sections are becoming increasingly competitive with conventional materials like steel and reinforced concrete. However, the conventional design approach and analysis as applied to steel and concrete have serious limitations if directly applied in the design and construction of structures with the fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP). These difficulties are rooted primarily in the microstructural characteristics of these materials. This paper summarizes the results of a study and analysis of the effects of severe temperature (cold) on the FRP materials.

INTRODUCTION

A constantly growing need for improved materials, processes, and products for the cost-effective manufacture and design of engineering structures and systems has been a driving force in the development of composite materials for structural applications. The favorable strength-to-weight ratios and the versatility in design and fabrication that permits material tailoring to a particular need make composites attractive design materials. Parts designed from composite materials not only offer weight savings and improved corrosion resistance, but can also give greater resistance to impact and fatigue, lower maintenance costs, and greater opportunities for parts integration during the manufacturing process than their counterparts made from conventional metals (Lubin, 1982). However, conventional design approach and analysis as applied to steel and concrete have serious limitations in direct applications in the design and construction of structures with the fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP). These difficulties are rooted primarily in the micro- structural characteristics of these materials. The fiber reinforcement imparts significant anisotropy in stiffness, induces complex modes of failure and allows accumulation of severe residual stresses under extreme temperature environments. Due to the viscoelastic nature of the matrix, the rate of loading also significantly affects the performance of these materials.

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