Influence of moisture absorption on GIC and flexural properties of GRP pipes

• Author(s): Guedes R. ; Sá A.
• Date: 2010
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10216/55304
• Origin: Repositório Aberto da Universidade do Porto
• Subject(s): Ciências Tecnológicas; Engenharia; Engenharia de processos
• Document Type: Article
• Language: English

Description

In this work the moisture diffusion process and the influence of moisture on mechanical properties (critical strain energy release rate in mode I (G IC), flexural modulus and ultimate flexural strength) of GRP pipes was assessed. The research was performed on specimens conditioned in two different environments, water at room temperature and water at 50°C. In this case it was verified that the water diffusion can be well described by the Fickg's second law. The critical strain energy release rate in mode I, G IC, shows a decrease between 5% and 10% when conditioned in water. The temperature of the conditioning does not have so much influence on the GIC values. The conditioning either in water at room temperature or at 50°C has an influence on the flexural modulus and strength of the pipes in the hoop direction, between 10% and 20%, respectively. The longitudinal modulus was more significantly affected by the conditioning in water at 50°C with a 30% decrease.