Abstract
Over the past decade, carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite circular tubes have emerged as a prominent application as a significant application of composite materials across various fields, including aerospace, marine engineering, and civil engineering. This study investigates the impact resistance and residual compressive strength of CFRP tubes with varying wall thicknesses after being subjected to seawater aging under different durations, temperatures, and conditions, as well as exposure to various levels of impact energy levels. Electron scanning microscopy (SEM) images reveal that seawater aging accelerates the degradation of the resin on the surface of the CFRP tubes, thereby compromising their overall structural integrity and stiffness. In low-velocity impact (LVI) tests, samples exposed to seawater aging exhibit complex cross-shaped crack patterns, which indicate a weakening of the internal structure of the CFRP tubes. Furthermore, the results of subsequent compressive after-impact (CAI) tests demonstrate that, in comparison to samples unaged, those aged for 60 days experience a 5.12% reduction in maximum load and a 46.08% increase in maximum displacement during impact testing. During the compression tests, digital image correlation (DIC) technology was utilized for monitoring, the results revealed that strain is significantly concentrated in the central region of the specimen upon reaching peak load, consistent with the observed damage modes observed. As the aging time increases, the area of strain concentration at peak load decreases, indicating a reduced resistance to deformation in the specimen and a gradual decline in CAI performance.
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