Study of thermomechanical coupling in carbon fibers woven‐ply reinforced thermoplastic laminates: Tensile behavior under radiant heat flux

Abstract

The present work focuses on the thermomechanical behavior of carbon fibers woven‐ply polyphenylene sulfide (PPS thermoplastic)‐based composite materials subjected to the combined action of a tensile mechanical loading and one‐side heat flux (40‐60 kW/m2) representative of fire exposure. An experimental bench was specifically designed to provide an insight in the coupling between a medium heat flux thermal aggression and a tensile mechanical loading (either in monotonic or creep mode) within quasi‐isotropic C/PPS laminates. When subjected to a monotonic tensile loading, a 50% increase in the heat flux lead to a 50% increase of the temperature at the exposed surface resulting in a 10% decrease in the maximum load borne by the laminates. When subjected to a creep loading at 60 kW/m2 (worst case scenario with the cone calorimeter), by dividing by 2.6 the applied creep stress (from 31% to 12% of the ultimate strength σ0u), it results in a time‐to‐failure multiplied by 2.5. The temperature distribution on the exposed and back surfaces are measured to evaluate the influence of PPS matrix melting, pyrolysis, and fibers oxidation on the stress redistribution within the laminates plies.

Experiments based analysis of thermal decomposition kinetics model. Case of carbon fibers PolyPhenylene Sulfide composites

“…The carbon fibres reinforced PPS composite have already been used in [2][3][4][5][6]. As for previous studies, the composite material was manufactured using a woven-ply prepreg (T300, 3K, 5HS)…”

“…Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) is one of the candidates to substitute thermosetting resins in structural parts that would potentially be exposed to fire. Previous studies have focused on characterization of thermal and mechanical behavior of carbon fibres reinforced PPS composite (C/PPS) composites under very high temperature conditions [2][3][4][5][6]. Results have shown that PPS has excellent properties, including high melting temperature, high glass transition temperature and a very good retention of their mechanical properties under fire conditions.…”

Meso-structure-based thermomechanical modelling of thermoplastic-based laminates subjected to combined mechanical loading and severe thermal gradients

“…before extending to the case of heterogeneous temperature fields [15][16][17][18][19]. A specificity in [16][17][18] was to combine the thermal aggression to the mechanical loading (in tension or compression) and to make simultaneous measurements of temperatures and mechanical response through time, up to temperatures above the onset of polymer matrix decomposition.…”

Improving the interface of carbon‐fibre‐reinforced poly(ether‐ether‐ketone) composites with fibre surface coating: a review

“…Reinforced PEEK with continuous carbon fibre (CF) can not only overcome the shortcomings of ordinary thermoplastic resins such as poor solvent resistance and low elastic modulus, but also show greatly improved performance. Based on previous reports, PEEK 6,7 composites have been applied to Airbus A340-600 and A382 aircraft structures successively. 8 Interfacial properties affect the transmission and distribution of stress in the composite and the generation and propagation of cracks in it, which have an important impact on the strength, toughness, heat resistance grade and moisture and heat aging resistance.…”

“…Reinforced PEEK with continuous carbon fibre (CF) can not only overcome the shortcomings of ordinary thermoplastic resins such as poor solvent resistance and low elastic modulus, but also show greatly improved performance. Based on previous reports, PEEK 6,7 composites have been applied to Airbus A340‐600 and A382 aircraft structures successively 8 …”