The effect of underwater explosion shock loading on the flexural properties of grp laminates

✍ Scribed by A.P. Mouritz

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1996
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 908 KB
• Volume: 18
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0734-743X
• DOI: 10.1016/0734-743x(95)00034-8

✦ Synopsis

This paper examines changes to the flexural properties of a monolithic glass reinforced polymer (GRP) laminate when impulsively loaded by an underwater shock wave produced by an explosion. The laminate was experimentally tested using shock waves having a wide range of impulse pressures, and the residual flexural strength and stiffness was measured by the four-point bend technique. When dynamically loaded by a shock wave with relatively low pressure, the laminate experienced comparatively little microstructural damage, and consequently the flexural properties remained unchanged. Increasing the shock wave pressure beyond a threshold value caused severe damage, resulting in a significant loss in flexural strength and stiffness. This paper also presents measurements of the flexural strength of GRP at strain rates between 2 x 10-6 and 2 x 10-1 s-1. It is proposed that the four-point bend test method can be used to evaluate the resistance of GRP to damage by underwater shock loading, providing the strain sensitivity of the laminate is considered.