Static and Fatigue Mechanical Properties of Polymer Matrix Composite Rods

Abstract

Tendons (cables or rods) are commonly employed as tension members in civil infrastructure, as well as buildings and offshore engineering structures. This study focuses on reliability evaluation of composite rods consisting of polymer matrix (carbon fiber/glass fiber hybrid thermoplastic composite rods (hybrid composite rods) and basalt fiber/polypropylene composite rod (BF/PP composite rod)). Optical and gravimetric methods were used to characterize the morphologies, including constituent volume fractions, of the composite rods. The hybrid composite rods are braided structures with varying diameters and braid angles. The BF/PP composite rod exhibits slight twisting. The volume fractions of the constituent elements (carbon fiber, glass fiber, basalt fiber, matrix, and void) were evaluated. Tensile and flexural tests were conducted under static and fatigue loadings. During the static tensile test, the stress applied to the composite rods was almost linearly proportional to the strain. The fiber-dominant behaviors of the composite rods were observed. During the static flexural test, the stress-strain relationship was initially linear, but as the stress approached its maximum, deformation became non-linear, and finally, the fibers fractured rapidly. During the fatigue tensile and flexural tests, the regression lines of the full-logarithmic curves showed good agreement with the fatigue test data. In addition, data was collected and statistical analyses were performed to assess the effects of environmental factors, such as temperature, on the static properties of the composite rods.