Background
The objective of this project is to continue the work of Corentin Humeau (PhD thesis of the University of Nantes, 2017), within the framework of an ONR (Office of Naval Research) project, in order to develop predictive models for composite materials in coupled conditions. The coupling here results in the exposure of the composite to immersion in water under mechanical loading. These conditions accelerate the development of the damage compared to uncoupled conditions usually taken into account (water aging followed by mechanical loading). However, the EMR structures in service undergo coupled conditions, and it is therefore essential to develop predictive tools that take them into account.
Scientific advances and innovation
The originality of this project lies in its orientation towards hygromechanical coupling. In the existing work (state of the art), there is a lot of data on the fall of properties after water aging, however there is an interaction between the water absorption and the mechanical in-service stress that can cause hygromechanical couplings, even acceleration of damage and premature failure. Moreover, in real applications, water and mechanical loadings act together, and a faithful prediction of the response of a composite marine structure must take into account the present couplings.
Expected technical and economic impact
The project is expected to provide numerical predictive tools of the lifetime of composite structures for EMR applications. These simulations should reduce the inspection and maintenance of parts in service.
Key project milestones
- T0 -> T0+36 - Work Package 1. Bibliographic research
- T0 -> T0+18 - Work Package 2. Identification of creep / damage / diffusion couplings
- T0+6 -> T0+32 - Work Package 3. Development of a numerical tool for the prediction of the coupling diffusion of water / damage propagation
- T0+24 -> T0+36 - Work Package 4. Validation
Results
The CEAUCOMP project is based on 2 main axes: water diffusion and the mechanical behaviour of composite materials. Initially, the two phenomena were studied in an uncoupled way (diffusive and mechanical characterizations separated). Indeed, a complete diffusive study has been carried out for over 500 days to understand the diffusive behavior (figure 1a) and the hygroscopic swelling linked to this water absorption (figure 1b).
On the other hand, the mechanical behavior has been analyzed at different aging times (0 to 500 days) in a quasi-static instantaneous way to highlight the influence og the aging on mechanical properties in an uncoupled…
A viscoelastic model was used to represent the creep behaviour of the studied materials and then introduced in a finite element software to perform hygro-viscoelastic simulations (diffusive and viscoelastic coupling) and and analyze local hygro-mechanical fields.
Publications and papers published
Oral communications
- Q. DEZULIER, P.CASARI, A. CLEMENT, F. JACQUEMIN, P. DAVIES, M. ARHANT, « Experimental characterization and modelling of the coupling between water diffusion and mechanical behaviour of composite materials” EUROMECH 607 (Poster) – Marine Aging of Polymers – Brest 28-29 august 2019.
- Q. Dezulier, F. Jacquemin, P. Davies, A. Clement, M. Arhant, B. Flageul, “Study of the hygro-mechanical coupling in composite materials” – Oral presentation – ICCS23 -23rd International Conference on Composite Structures – Online – 2nd September 2020
- Q. Dezulier, P. Davies, A. Clement, F. Jacquemin, M. Arhant, B. Flageul, P. Casari, “On the study of coupled creep test of composite materials used in a marine environment” – Présentation & Poster, COMPTEST – 10th International Conference on Composite Testing and Model Identification – En ligne – 18-20 mai 2020.
- Q. Dezulier, A. Clement, P. Davies, B. Flageul, M. Arhant, F. Jacquemin, « Etude du couplage hygromécanique de matériaux composites utilisés en milieu marin » – Présentation filmée, JNC22 – 22ème Journée Nationale sur les Composites – Online – 28-30 june 2021.
- Q.DEZULIER, P. DAVIES, A. CLEMENT, F. JACQUEMIN, M. ARHANT, B. FLAGEUL, P. CASARI, « Study of the durability of composite materials used for off-shore wind turbine blades», Poster (présentiel), Seanergy, Nantes, 21-24 septembre 2021.
- Q. Dezulier, A. Clement, P. Davies, F. Jacquemin, “On the study of hygro-mechanical coupling for composite materials used for off-shore wind turbine blades”, FOWT 2021 – Floating Offshore Wind Turbine – Saint Malo – 16-18 November 2021.
Article under review
Q. Dezulier1, A. Clement1, P. Davies2, M. Arhant2, B. Flageul2, F. Jacquemin1 “Water ageing effects on the elastic and viscoelastic behavior of epoxy-based materials used in marine environment” – Accepté par l’éditeur, actuellement en cours de review
