Static behavior of woven fiber-laminated composites in hygrothermal environment

The present study involves extensive experimental works to investigate the hygrothermal effects on the mechanical behavior of glass:epoxy and glass:polyester composites. Static tests involving three points bend tests and subsequent interpolation of statistical parameters including interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) appears to be of significant importance for evaluation of static capacity of composite structures in hygrothermal environment. The present investigation deals with the failure behavior of woven fiber composites under different loading speeds and change in material percentage constituents under hygrothermal conditions. The investigations were carried out on different types of composites with different constituents of their weight fractions 55:45, 60:40, and 65:35 at a constant speed of 200 mm/min in hygrothermal environment and different exposure time. The statistical interpretation of ILSS indicates good quality control of specimens. The study concludes that the ILSS of composite specimens are significantly affected by temperature, moisture concentrations, increase in loading speed, and time of exposure.