Accelerated Test Methods to Determine the Long-Term Behavior of FRP Composite Structures: Environmental Effects

Abstract

Technical literature on the subject of environmental exposure effects related to determining accelerated test methods for the prediction of long-term performance of FRP composite materials for highway structural applications is reviewed in this paper. Effects of environmental exposure of a chemical and a thermal nature on fiberreinforced polymer (FRP) composites are considered. Such exposures include temperature, moisture and chemicals in liquid solutions or in gaseous mixtures. The effects include the changes in the physical and mechanical properties of the composite materials. Such changes are typically related to the degradation or deterioration of the composite material. Synergistic effects of mechanical load and exposure are also reviewed. The review is divided in topics entitled Materials, Exposure Conditions, Experimental Techniques, Failure Mechanisms and Theoretical Modeling.