Residual stresses in CSM/vinyl ester resin laminates due to post-cure shrinkage

摘要

In the design of glass reinforced plastic vessels for the chemical industry it should be recognised that the matrix can undergo significant chemical shrinkage during elevated temperature post-curing. If this shrinkage is restrained from occurring freely then residual stresses can be set up. These can quite easily exceed the levels of stress or strain allowed for by accepted design codes and are sufficient to promote environmentally assisted cracking in certain operating environments. Furthermore, in many cases the residual stresses will be significantly larger than the stresses associated with mechanical and thermal loading.