The compressive behavior of glass fiber reinforced composites subjected to local thermal lodging

• Main Author: Westover, Catherine M.
• Other Authors: Mechanical Engineering
• Published: 2012
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10945/24378

CIVINS === An experimental study has been conducted to determine the effects of local thermal loading on the compressive behavior of glass fiber composites. The primary factors considered were the intensity of thermal loading and the applied compressive load. The material specimens tested were laminate plates composed of Micarta 010 FR4, a fire retardant glass/epoxy laminate. Two types of testing were conducted for heat fluxes of 85 kW/m2, 140 kW/m2, and 195 kW/m2. The first type involved the unloaded radiant thermal testing of the material and provided a baseline from which the effects of thermal loading on the physical properties of the composite specimen were determined. The second type was a combined loading test, which involved loading specimens in compression to a constant applied load and subjecting them to a local thermal load.