Internal Pressure-Temperature Coupling Analysis Method for Thermal Decomposition of GFRP Composites Based on the...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Computational Mechanics

Background:

• Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) composites are susceptible to thermal decomposition under high temperatures.
• Understanding internal pressure generation during decomposition is critical for predicting material failure and ensuring safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a robust computational method for analyzing the coupled thermal decomposition behavior of GFRP composites.
• To investigate the transient internal pressure and temperature evolution within GFRPs at elevated temperatures.

Main Methods:

• Developed a novel internal pressure-temperature coupling analysis method.
• Incorporated heat transfer, Arrhenius, Darcy's law, and ideal gas state equations.
• Utilized overlapping mesh and UMATHT/USDFLD user subroutines for coupled simulations.

Main Results:

• Numerical simulations accurately predicted temperature and internal pressure for glass fiber/vinyl ester and glass fiber/phenolic composites, aligning with experimental data.
• Observed a surge in internal pressure due to thermal decomposition gas accumulation, followed by a decrease.
• Identified position-dependent factors influencing pressure decrease, including decomposition rate, porosity, and permeability.

Conclusions:

• The established method provides a reliable tool for simulating GFRP thermal decomposition under high temperatures.
• Internal pressure dynamics are complex and influenced by material properties and proximity to the heat source.
• Further analysis of porosity and permeability is essential for a comprehensive understanding of GFRP failure mechanisms.