Long-Term Durability of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer-Matrix Composite Materials for Infrastructure Applications: A Review

Published

April 1, 1998

Author(s)

Kate Liao, Carl R. Schultesiz, Donald L. Hunston, L C. Brinson

Abstract

Polymer composites are finding increased utilization in infrastructure applications where long-term structural performance is required. An important barrier to the expanded introduction of such materials in this area is the lack of information on long term durability in various environments. Because the infrastructure market is very cost sensitive, the composites of choice are reinforced with continuous glass fibers or mixtures of continuous glass and carbon fibers (hybrids). Although there has been considerable data in the literature on the durability of carbon fiber composites and short fiber glass materials, results for continuous fiber glass or hybrid composites are very limited. This paper reviews the literature on composite durability with particular attention to the materials of most interest for infrastructure applications. The various types of loading and environmental conditioning are considered as well as the numerous approaches that have been taken to model the behavior. The most important gaps in our current knowledge base are also identified.

Citation

Journal of Advanced Materials

Volume

30

Issue

No. 4

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

composites, damage accumulation, durability, environmental aging, fatigue, life prediction, water

Citation

Liao, K. , Schultesiz, C. , Hunston, D. and Brinson, L. (1998), Long-Term Durability of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer-Matrix Composite Materials for Infrastructure Applications: A Review, Journal of Advanced Materials (Accessed October 1, 2025)