International audienceThe aim of this study was to better understand the aging of glass fibre–epoxy composites exposed to water and loading and to predict effects on structure lifetimes. Diffusion was investigated by gravimetric methods to determine sorption kinetics for different conditions. Fickian diffusion was observed. Decreases of mechanical properties as a function of diffusion were observed. Damage by cracking and the coupling with water uptake were then studied. A model taking into account effects due to water and/or mechanical loading is proposed which allows the continuous evolution of rigidity during aging to be predicted at all stages of water absorption and matrix cracking
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.