Static and Fatigue Characterization of Large Composite T-Bolt Connections in Marine Hygrothermal Environments

Murdy, Paul; Hughes, Scott; Miller, David A.; Presuel-Moreno, Francisco J.; Bonheyo, George T.; Gunawan, Budi; Hernandez-Sanchez, Bernadette A.

doi:10.3390/jmse11122309

Static and Fatigue Characterization of Large Composite T-Bolt Connections in Marine Hygrothermal Environments

Journal Article · Wed Dec 06 00:00:00 EST 2023 · Journal of Marine Science and Engineering

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11122309· OSTI ID:2229349

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National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Arvada, CO (United States)
Montana State University, Bozeman, MT (United States)
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL (United States)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Fiber-reinforced polymer composites have been highlighted as ideal candidates for structural applications in marine renewable energy devices, such as tidal turbines and wave energy converters. It is well understood that harsh marine environments can cause strength degradation of composite laminates, which has been extensively researched at the coupon scale; however, no research has investigated how this translates into larger-scale composite structures. This paper presents a subcomponent-scale study which investigates the effects of hygrothermal aging and subsequent static and fatigue characterization of thick composite T-bolt connections as part of a large, multilaboratory materials research effort. Of the glass-reinforced epoxy and vinylester-epoxy matrix composites tested, both showed measurable static strength degradation (4–36%) after being hygrothermally aged, even though the composite specimens were only partially saturated with water. Under tension–tension fatigue loading, the epoxy specimens performed very well in their dry states but exhibited significant degradation after hygrothermal aging. In comparison, the vinylester-epoxy specimens had much shorter fatigue lives in their dry states but exhibited no degradation after hygrothermal aging. Overall, this research demonstrates that hygrothermal aging can have significant effects on the ultimate strengths and fatigue lives of even partially saturated thick composite T-bolt connections, indicating that degradation of the outer plies on thick composite laminates can have pronounced effects on the whole structure. It discusses the challenges of building an understanding of the effects of harsh marine environments in large-scale composite structures.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Water Power Technologies Office

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830; AC36-08GO28308

OSTI ID:: 2229349

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2274779

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA--5700-85117; PNNL-SA--193235

Journal Information:: Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, Journal Name: Journal of Marine Science and Engineering Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 11; ISSN 2077-1312

Publisher:: MDPICopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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