Durability of a Woven Polymer Matrix
Composite In Aerospace Applications
S. R. Patel and S. W. Case
The objective of this effort was to evaluate and model the effects of
moisture, temperature, and combined hygrothermal aging on the strength and life of a
graphite/epoxy woven composite material system. The material system studied is a candidate
for use in an advanced subsonic aircraft engine, and the imposed environmental and aging
conditions were considered to be representative of the engine service conditions. Fatigue
and residual strength data showed that initial and residual tensile properties and fatigue
life of the material were only minimally affected by any of the imposed environmental
conditions. However, fatigue damage progression and accumulation were found to vary with
temperature and with different fatigue stress levels. Because of the lack of environmental
effects on the residual strength data and life of the material, room temperature data were
used in a residual strength based life prediction approach to model with reasonable
results.