Fatigue life and residual strength prediction of GFRP composites: An experimental and theoretical approach

Abstract

This paper presents the fatigue behavior of Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) composites at constant amplitude tension-tension loading conditions. A two parameter residual strength and fatigue life model has been proposed by accounting the effect of stress ratio when the structure undergoes continuous loading. A model is also developed to predict the fatigue life of GFRP composites based on fatigue endurance limit. Experiments were conducted on GFRP composite specimens to predict fatigue life and residual strength at various stress levels. Tests were also conducted to gain an understanding of the tensile behavior of GFRP composite specimens under different quasistatic strain rates. The lowest tensile strength resulting from strain rate studies has been used ultimately for conducting fatigue life and residual strength tests. Reliability of the proposed models has been verified with experimental results and with the models seen in literature.