In this study, the behaviour of hat-shaped glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) composite beams was investigated experimentally and numerically to predict the effect of different material composition on:
• Flexural stiffness of the beams
• Ultimate collapse strength of beams
• Failure mechanisms of the beams
The materials used in this study were chopped strand mat (CSM) in different weight e.g., 600, 450 and 225 g/m2 and 1600 g/m2 unidirectional (UD) glass fibre, 600 g/m2 woven rowing (WR) and 600 g/m2 biaxial [±45°] with polyester resin (isopthalic and orthopthalic) and polyurethane (PU) foam. Two types of top hat composite beam have been tested under four-point bending loads. The finite element predictions were compared with the test data and good agreement was obtained.
1. Shenoi, R.A. and Wellicome, J.W. (1993). Strategic Overview, Composite Materials in Maritime Structures, Volume 1, 1–7Ocean Technology Series, Cambridge University Press, U.K.
2.
2. Hellbratt, S.E. (2003). Experiences from Design and Production of the 72m CFRP-Sandwich Corvette Visby, 6th International Conference on Sandwich Structures, pp. 15-15 March 31, CRC Press, Florida, USA .
3.
3. Halmatic (2002). Largest Mast Uses Specialised Materials and Processes, Ship & Boat International, October, pp. 26-26,27-27.
4.
4. Gibbs and Cox (1960). Marine Design Manual for FRP, McGraw Hill, New York .
6. Det Norske Veritas (1991). Tentative Rules for Classification of High Speed and Light Craft, Hovik, Norway ,
7.
7. Lloyd’s Register of Shipping (1983). Rules for Yachts and Small Craft, London .
8.
8. American Bureau of Shipping (1978). Rules for Building and Classing Reinforced Plastic Vessels, New York .
9.
9. Dixon, R.H. , Ramsey, B.W. and Usher, P.J. (1972). Design and build of GRP hull of HMS WILTON , In: Proceedings of the Symposium on GRP Ship Construction, pp. 1–33 , RINA, London.
10.
10. Smith, C.S. (1972). Structural Problems in the Design of FRP Ships , In: Proceedings of the Symposium on FRP Ship Construction, pp. 33–57 , RINA, London.
11.
11. Funatogawa, O. , Kimpara, I. and Takehana, M. (1978). On the Stiffening Effect of Hat-shaped Stiffeners on a Plate, Bending of Single Stiffener Model, J.S.N.A.Japan , Vol. 144.
12.
12. Funatogawa, O. , Kimpara, I. and Takehana, M. (1979). On the Stiffening Effect of Hat-shaped Stiffeners on a Plate, Buckling of a Single Stiffener Model, J.S.N.A. Vol. 145.
13.
13. Green, A.K. and Bowyer, W.H. (1981). The Testing and Analysis of Novel Top-hat Stiffener Fabrication Methods for Use in FRP Ships, In: Marshall, I.H. (ed), Composite Structures, Applied Science Press, London .
14.
14. Noorwood, L. and Caulier, C. (1992). Testing the Effectiveness of Tough Resin Systems for Improving the Structural Performance of Joints in FRP Ships , Nautical Construction with Composite Materials, International Conference, Paris7th–9th December.
15.
15. Choqueuse, D. , Davies, P. and Bigourdan, B. (1992). Correlation Between Tests and Calculations for Composite Materials in Marine Applications , Nautical Construction with Composite Materials, International Conference, Paris7th–9th December.
16.
16. Junhou, P. and Shenoi, R.A. (1995). Examination of Key Aspects Defining the Performance Characteristics of Out-of-plane Joints in FRP Marine Structures , Composites, Part A, 27A(2).
17.
17. Richard, R.P. (1997). Composite Perform Frames for GRP Structures , In: Proceedings of the 18th International SAMPE Europe Conference of the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering, Paris, 23–25 April.
18.
18. Blake, J.I.R. , Shenoi, R.I. , House, J. and Turton, T. (2002). Strength Modelling in Stiffened FRP Structures with Viscoelastic Inserts for Ocean Structures , Ocean Engineering, 29: 849–869 .
20. Shenoi, R.A. and Hawkins, G.L. (1995). An Investigation into the Performance Characteristics of Top-hat Stiffener to Shell Plating Joints , Composite Structures, 30: 109–121 .
21.
21. Philips, H.J. , Shenoi, R.A. and Moss, C.E. (1999). Damage Mechanics of Top-hat Stiffeners Used in FRP Ship Construction , Marine Structures, 12(1–19).
22.
22. Smith, C.S. (1990). Design of Marine Structures on Composite Materials, Elsevier Applied Science, London .
23.
23. Lee, S. , Xiong, X. , Benak, T.J. and Heat, J. (1997). Design, Analysis, Manufacture, and Experimental Performance of Hat Stiffened Composite Panel, Centre for Advance Engineering Materials. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Institute for Aerospace Research Council of Canada .
24.
24. Qiao, P. , Davalos, J.F. and Barbero, J. (1996). Design Optimisation of Fibre Reinforced Plastic Composite Shapes, West Virginia University, USA .
