Environmental effect on fatigue life of glass-epoxy composite pipes subjected to impact loading

The main objective of this experimental study was to investigate the effects of seawater and impact loading on the fatigue life of glass-epoxy composite pipes under cyclic internal pressure. The pipes were produced by filament winding technique. Composite specimens were immersed in seawater for periods of 3, 6, and 9 months. After the impact tests are carried out at three different energy levels (5, 7.5, and 10 J), fatigue tests were conducted on the specimens. It is seen from results that fatigue life changes according to both impact energy and seawater immersion time. Fatigue life of non-impacted specimen is greater than the impacted one. Fatigue life increases in the impacted specimens up to 3 months and reaches generally maximum value. After that it decreases with increase in seawater immersion time. During the fatigue tests, fatigue damage types named perspiration, leakage, and eruption were observed. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.