EFFECTS OF SALTWATER SATURATION ON THE STATIC STRENGTH AND ACOUSTIC EMISSION SIGNATURES OF EPOXY GLASS COMPOSITES

摘要

Composite materials see a significant drop in strength when saturated with sea water. Thisrnphenomenon continues to be studied as these materials are being utilized more frequently inrnseawater environments. This research provides specific strength reduction values for arnfiberglass/epoxy matrix material system commonly used in the wind turbine blade industry, asrnwell as extends the study to include acoustic emission analysis of damage events. Peak frequencyrninformation of damage events is grouped into discrete “bins”, and compared for both dry andrnsaturated coupons. Three balanced antisymmetric laminates and three unbalanced laminates arernstudied.