High Temperature Performance of Polymer Composites

The authors explain the changes in the thermophysical and thermomechanical properties of polymer composites under elevated temperatures and fire conditions. Using microscale physical and chemical concepts they allow researchers to find reliable solutions to their engineering needs on the macroscale. In a unique combination of experimental results and quantitative models, a framework is developed to realistically predict the behavior of a variety of polymer composite materials over a wide range of thermal and mechanical loads. In addition, the authors treat extreme fire scenarios up to more than 1000?C for two hours, presenting heat-protection methods to improve the fire resistance of composite materials and full-scale structural members, and discuss their performance after fire exposure. Thanks to the microscopic approach, the developed models are valid for a variety of polymer composites and structural members, making this work applicable to a wide audience, including materials scientists, polymer chemists, engineering scientists in industry, civil engineers, mechanical engineers, and those working in the industry of civil infrastructure.

Table of Contents:
Preface INTRODUCTION Background FTP Materials and Processing FRP Structures Structural Fire Safety Summary MATERIAL STATES OF FRP COMPOSITES UNDER ELEVATED AND HIGH TEMPERATURES Introduction Glass Transition Leathery-to-Rubbery Transition Decomposition Summary EFFECTIVE PROPERTIES OF MATERIAL MIXTURES Introduction Volume Fraction of Material State Statistical Distribution Functions Estimated Effective Properties Summary THERMOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF FRP COMPOSITES Introduction Change of Mass Thermal Conductivity Specific Heat Capacity Time Dependence of Thermophysical Properties Summary THERMOMECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF FRP COMPOSITES Introduction Elastic and Shear Modulus Effective Coefficient of Thermal Expansion Strength Summary THERMAL RESPONSES OF FRP COMPOSITES Introduction Full-Scale Cellular Beam Experiments Thermal Response Modeling of Beam Experiments Full-Scale Cellular Column Experiments Thermal Resonse Modeling of Column Experiments Summary MECHANICAL RESPONSES OF FRP COMPOSITES Introduction Full-Scale Cellular Beam Experiments Mechanical Response Modeling of Beam Experiments Full-Scale Cellular Column Experiments Mechanical Response Modeling of Column Experiments Axial Compression Experiments on Compact Specimens Modeling of Compression Experiments on Compact Specimens Axial Compression Experiments on Slender Specimens Modeling of Compression Experiments on Slender Specimens Summary POST-FIRE BEHAVIOR OF FRP COMPOSITES Introduction Post-Fire Behavior of FRP Beams Post-Fire Modeling of FRP Beams Post-Fire Behavior of FRP Columns Post-Fire Modeling of FRP Columns Comparison to Post-Fire Beam Experiments Summary FIRE PROTECTION PRACTICES FOR FRP COMPONENTS Introduction Passive Fire Protection Active Fire Protection Passive Fire Protection Applications with FRP Components Active Fire Protection Applications with FRP Components Summary Index

About the Author :
Yu Bai received his PhD in civil engineering from the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) Switzerland in 2009 and became an academic in the Department of Civil Engineering of Monash University Australia in the same year. His research investigates the material and structural responses of fiber-reinforced polymer composites under critical load and environmental conditions such as fire, combined temperature and humidity, and sea water exposure. His research efforts are also focused on developing new building techniques and structural systems using fiber-reinforced polymer composite materials. In 2012, he received the Discovery Early Career Researcher Award from the Australia Research Council, as the inaugural recipient. Thomas Keller obtained his civil engineering degree and his doctoral degree from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich. In 2007, he was appointed Full Professor of Structures at the School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland. In addition, Thomas Keller is founder and director of the Composite Construction Laboratory (CCLab). His research work is focused on polymer composites and hybrid materials and engineering structures with an emphasis on lightweight multifunctional structures.