Fiber-reinforced laminated composite is often used in harsh environments that may affect their static stability and long-term durability as well as residual strength. In this study, the effect of heavy chemical environments such as acid and alkaline and retaining time for these environments on flexural strength and flexural fatigue behavior of carbon/epoxy laminated composites were investigated. In this context, carbon/epoxy was retained into an acidic and alkaline solution having 5%, 15%, and 25% concentration by weight for 1–4 months. Fatigue behavior of carbon/epoxy was determined under dynamic flexural load, which corresponds to 80%, 70%, 60%, 50%, and 40% of static three-point bending strength of the test sample. SEM image of damaged specimens was taken to describe the failure mechanism of damage which occurs after fatigue. Also, to better understand environmental condition on the fatigue life, results were compared with results of carbon/epoxy laminated composites, which were not retained into any environments (unretained). The test results showed that the solution type, solution concentration, and retaining time caused noticeable changes in the static and dynamic strengths of carbon/epoxy laminated composites.
ZhengQMorganRJ.Synergistic thermal-moisture damage mechanisms of epoxies and their carbon fiber composites. J Compos Mater1993; 27: 1465–1478.
2.
NakamuraTSinghRPVaddadiP.Effects of environmental degradation on flexural failure strength of fiber reinforced composites. Exp Mech2006; 46: 257–268.
3.
ShanYLiaoK.Environmental fatigue behavior and life prediction of unidirectional glass-carbon/epoxy hybrid composites. Int J Fatigue2002; 24: 847–859.
4.
BajracharyaRMManaloACKarunasenaW, et al. Durability characteristics and property prediction of glass fibre reinforced mixed plastics composites. Compos Part B Eng2017; 116: 16–29.
5.
BianLXiaoJZengJ, et al. Effects of seawater immersion on water absorption and mechanical properties of GFRP composites. J Compos Mater2012; 46: 3151–3162.
6.
PillaySVaidyaUKJanowskiGM.Effects of moisture and UV exposure on liquid molded carbon fabric reinforced nylon 6 composite laminates. Compos Sci Technol2009; 69: 839–846.
7.
MahmoudMKTantawiSH.Effect of strong acids on mechanical properties of glass/polyester GRP pipe at normal and high temperatures. Polym Plast Technol Eng2003; 42: 677–688.
8.
StamenovićMPutićSRakinM, et al. Effect of alkaline and acidic solutions on the tensile properties of glass-polyester pipes. Mater Des2011; 32: 2456–2461.
9.
KawadaHSrivastavaVK.The effect of an acidic stress environment on the stress-intensity factor for GRP laminates. Compos Sci Technol2001; 61: 1109–1114.
10.
BalcıoğluHESakinRGünH.The design of multi-sample flexural fatigue device and fatigue behavior of glass/epoxy laminated composites. Res Eng Struct Mater2018; 4: 279–296.
11.
SelmyAIAzabNAAbd El-BakyMA.Flexural fatigue characteristics of two different types of glass fiber/epoxy polymeric composite laminates with statistical analysis. Compos Part B Eng2013; 45: 518–527.
12.
AfsharA.Synergistic effects of marine environments and flexural fatigue on carbon fiber–vinyl ester composites protected by gelcoat. J Compos Mater2017; 51: 3711–3717.
13.
KhashabaUA.Fatigue and reliability analysis of unidirectional GFRP composites under rotating bending loads. J Compos Mater2003; 37: 317–331.
14.
LiuZLiPSrikanthN, et al. Quantification of flexural fatigue life and 3D damage in carbon fibre reinforced polymer laminates. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf2016; 90: 778–785.
15.
HaegerAGrudenikMHoffmannMJ, et al. Effect of drilling-induced damage on the open hole flexural fatigue of carbon/epoxy composites. Compos Struct2019; 215: 238–248.
16.
MaZ.Flexural fatigue behavior of LSI based plain weave carbon fabrics reinforced ceramic composites. Ceram Int2018; 44: 13145–13151.
17.
BelingardiGCavatortaMP.Bending fatigue stiffness and strength degradation in carbon-glass/epoxy hybrid laminates: cross-ply vs. angle-ply specimens. Int J Fatigue2006; 28: 815–825.
18.
KhanSUMunirAHussainR, et al. Fatigue damage behaviors of carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy composites containing nanoclay. Compos Sci Technol2010; 70: 2077–2085.
19.
MengMLeHGroveS, et al. Moisture effects on the bending fatigue of laminated composites. Compos Struct2016; 154: 49–60.
20.
HanLLiuMLuoS, et al. Fatigue and corrosion fatigue behaviors of G105 and S135 high−strength drill pipe steels in air and H 2 S environment. Process Saf Environ Prot2019; 124: 63–74.
21.
MariamMAfendiMAbdul MajidMS, et al. Hydrothermal ageing effect on the mechanical behaviour and fatigue response of aluminium alloy/glass/epoxy hybrid composite single lap joints. Compos Struct2019; 219: 69–82.
22.
KawaiMYajimaSHachinoheA, et al. Of unidirectional carbon at room and high temperatures. Compos Sci Technol2000; 35: 1285–1302.
23.
MortazavianSFatemiA.Effects of mean stress and stress concentration on fatigue behavior of short fiber reinforced polymer composites. Fatigue Fract Engng Mater Struct2016; 39: 149–166.
24.
JiangLHeCFuJ, et al. Enhancement of wear and corrosion resistance of polyvinyl chloride/sorghum straw-based composites in cyclic sea water and acid rain conditions. Constr Build Mater2019; 223: 133–141.
25.
SongJJamesUSHuD, et al. Fatigue characterization of structural bamboo materials under flexural bending. Int J Fatigue2017; 100: 126–135.
26.
FanWDangWLiuT, et al. Fatigue behavior of the 3D orthogonal carbon/glass fibers hybrid composite under three-point bending load. Mater Des2019; 183: 108–112.
27.
SakinRAyİ.Statistical analysis of bending fatigue life data using Weibull distribution in glass-fiber reinforced polyester composites. Mater Des2008; 29: 1170–1181.
28.
ASTM International. ASTM D 7264/D 7264M-07. Standard test method for flexural properties of polymer matrix composite materials. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM International, 2007, p.11.
29.
BalcıoğluHESakinRDumanayA, et al. Kompozit levhalar için çok numuneli Ankastre-Tip eğilmeli yorulma test makinesinin geliştirilmesi. Gümüşhane Üniversitesi Fen Bilim. Enstitüsü Derg2018; 8: 1–17.
30.
ASTM D671-93. Standard test method for flexural fatigue of plastics by constant amplitude of force. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM International, 1993.
31.
PhilippidisTPVassilopoulosAP.Complex stress state effect on fatigue life of GRP laminates. Part I, experimental. Int J Fatigue2002; 24: 813–823.
32.
Abd AllahMHAbdinEMSelmyAI, et al. Short communication effect of mean stress on fatigue behaviour of GFRP pultruded rod composites. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf1997; 28: 87–91.
33.
CatangiuADumitrescuATUngureanuD.Experimental results for bending fatigue behaviour of glass-epoxy composite materials. Scientific Bulletin of Valahia University, Materials and Mechanics2011; 6: 47–51.
34.
Van PaepegemWDegrieckJ.Coupled residual stiffness and strength model for fatigue of fibre-reinforced composite materials. Compos Sci Technol2002; 62: 687–696.
35.
BeyeneATBelingardiGKorichoEG.Effect of notch on quasi-static and fatigue flexural performance of twill E-Glass/epoxy composite. Compos Struct2016; 153: 825–842.
36.
VavouliotisAPaipetisAKostopoulosV.On the fatigue life prediction of CFRP laminates using the electrical resistance change method. Compos Sci Technol2011; 71: 630–642.
37.
SakinR.Relationship between barcol hardness and flexural modulus degradation of composite sheets subjected to flexural fatigue. Steel Compos Struct2015; 19: 1531–1548.
38.
LongbiaoL.Fatigue life prediction of 2D woven ceramic-matrix composites at room and elevated temperatures. J Mater Eng Perform2017; 26: 1209–1222.
39.
AyISakinROkoldanG.An improved design of apparatus for multi-specimen bending fatigue and fatigue behaviour for laminated composites. Mater Des2008; 29: 397–402.
40.
BenmokraneBAliAHMohamedHM, et al. Laboratory assessment and durability performance of vinyl-ester, polyester, and epoxy glass-FRP bars for concrete structures. Compos Part B2017; 114: 163–174.
41.
WangXJiangLShenH, et al. Long-term performance of pultruded basalt fiber reinforced polymer profiles under acidic conditions. J Mater Civ Eng2018; 30: 1–11.
