FIRE DEGRADATION OF FIBER COMPOSITES

This paper describes results from combined experimental and theoretica l studies of compressive failures of polymer matrix glass reinforced c omposites which have undergone thermal loading. The materials discusse d herein ave composed of vinylester resins and E-glass, quasi-isotropi c, fabrics with relatively high fiber densities in the 55 volume perce nt range. Both single skin and coved composite materials are addressed in our studies but the focus of the present paper is on single skin c omposites. Experimental studies have included structural collapse unde r combined thermal (i.e. fire) and mechanical loading; the mechanical loading included combined in-plane and out-of-plane loading of panels which were approximately 1 m(2). Our theoretical studies include detai led finite element simulations of panel deformation and collapse to be compared with the experimental observations. The approach to the deve lopment of a quantitative methodology for structural fire protection i s discussed in the context of the experiments and analyses. This appro ach is outlined using a simple analytical model for structural collaps e; the model's predictions are compared with experiment and the numeri cal simulations.