Failure analysis using acoustic and energy emission assessment of fibre reinforced polymer material performance under severe conditions

Abstract

Laboratory compressive tests and acoustic emission analysis have been used to investigate the failure of pultruded fibre reinforced polymer materials after they have been subjected to temperature stress and compressive loading. The acoustic emission approach is then compared with the experimental values of energy released by each sample through the corresponded load-displacement curve. Samples subjected to severe thermal conditions showed more evidence of brittle failure mechanism. This analysis has been conducted in order to confirm the potential capacity of fibre reinforced polymer materials, known currently for their strength and lightweight but often ‘brittle’ physical characteristics, to perform under exaggerated conditions of temperature and compressive stress.