M. M. Shokrieh - Professor
H. Olia A. R. Haghighatkhah - Graduate student
M Esmkhani - Graduate student, Ph.D.Composites Research Laboratory, Center of Excellence in Experimental SolidMechanics and Dynamics, School of Mechanical Engineering, Iran University ofScience and Technology, Tehran, ۱۶۸۴۶-۱۳۱۱۴, Iran

The main purpose of this study is to determine mechanical degradation of glass/epoxy composites exposed tothe Persian Gulf sea water. This mechanical degradation of glass/epoxy composites is classified to both quasi-static and fatigue loadings in total exposure time of 90 days to sea water with the temperature of 30 oC. For this purpose, sixteenspecimens consisting of four specimens for quasi-static and twelve specimens for fatigue tests were immersed in see water for three periods of one month. The increased weight reported after 90 days indicates resin susceptibility againstsea water. Finally, quasi-static and fatigue tests were conducted on them. The results specifically show the degradation of the material in terms of flexural rigidity, and flexural strength under quasi-static loading conditions. Moreover, adecrease in fatigue life, from 14000 cycles to static failure (less than 1000 cycles) was observed after ninety days of exposure time.

Sea water, aging, glass/epoxy composites, quasi-static loading, fatigue