A study on failure prediction and design criteria for fiber composites under fire degradation

Polymer matrix composites can be severely degraded/damaged under thermal lo ading caused by fire. Fire degradation of fiber composites is a serious con cern in large load-bearing structural applications such as ship, piers and bridges. This paper describes results from combined experimental and theore tical studies of compressive failures of polymer-matrix glass-reinforced co mposites which have undergone fire degradation. The focus of the present pa per is on single skin composites. Experimental studies have included struct ural collapse under combined thermal (i.e. fire) and mechanical loading. De tailed analytical and numerical simulations of panel deformation and collap se show good agreement with the experimental observations. A quantitative m ethodology for developing the design approach is proposed and discussed wit h respect to the experimental results and thermal boundary conditions. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.