Analyzing the mechanical behavior of E-glass fibre-reinforced interpenetrating polymer network composite pipe

Abstract

In this study, a mixture of vinyl ester (VER) and polyurethane (PU) prepolymer was used in the field of pipe manufacturing as a matrix material (interpenetrating polymer networks) with E-glass fibre as reinforcement. In order to evaluate the mechanical strength of the fibre-reinforced VER-PU interpenetrating polymer network composite pipe, tests like hydrostatic, hoop, stiffness, and axial compression were conducted systematically with five proportions of PU-loaded VER (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%). It was observed that during the stiffness test, all the PU-loaded VER specimens have regained its original shape, size, and also retains its structural integrity. VER glass fibre composite pipes (0% PU) exhibited crazing, wall delamination, and rupture on compression. With increase in PU content, there were no such effects after the compression, but a slight drop in mechanical properties like hoop, stiffness, and axial compression was observed. The obtained experimental results were found to be in good agreement with finite element analysis data.