Finite difference analysis of thermal response and post-fire flexural degradation of glass fiber reinforced composites coated with carbon nanofiber based nanopapers

    Authors

    J. F. Zhuge; J. H. Gou; R. H. Chen;J. Kapat

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Compos. Pt. A-Appl. Sci. Manuf.

    Keywords

    Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs); Thermomechanical; Numerical analysis; Mechanical testing; POLYMER COMPOSITES; MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES; FIRE-PERFORMANCE; HEAT-TRANSFER; GRP PANELS; MODEL; EPOXY; PAPER; Engineering, Manufacturing; Materials Science, Composites

    Abstract

    In this study, a 1D transient finite difference model was developed to predict the thermal response and post-fire flexural modulus degradation of glass fiber reinforced polyester composites subjected to various levels of heat flux. A carbon nanofiber (CNF) based hybrid nanopaper was coated onto the surface of the composites. The protective nanopaper coating was treated as to impose a temperature boundary condition in the model. A temperature dependent post-fire mechanical property model proposed in an earlier study was implemented with the thermal model in which the porosity and permeability of the material were taken into account. By comparing the post-fire residual flexural moduli, the model prediction showed reasonable agreement with the experimental data and expected physical behaviors. The model numerically demonstrates how the coating of nanopaper helps retain the structural integrity of the composite material, namely, the nanopaper coating leads to a reduction in mass loss, reduced cold side temperature, and eventually improved mechanical property. Furthermore, the parametric study of the model suggested that the porosity of the material has profound influence on the residual moduli of the composites. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

    Journal Title

    Composites Part a-Applied Science and Manufacturing

    Volume

    43

    Issue/Number

    12

    Publication Date

    1-1-2012

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    2278

    Last Page

    2288

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000310762800014

    ISSN

    1359-835X

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