Abstract
Two groups of cylindrical carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) tendons were exposed in distilled water at 23°C and 60°C to study the diffusion mechanisms and the effect of moisture uptake on the tendon shear modulus. The two tendon groups had different manufacturing processes, so DMA tests and optical microscopy were used to help characterize the materials. Mass uptake readings of tendon samples were recorded and the uptake generally agreed with Fickian predictions. To study the time-dependent changes in the matrix stiffness due to exposure, torsion tests within the elastic range of loading were conducted. The tendon shear modulus was then derived from the torque versus twist plots. For both groups of tendons the measured shear modulus decreased due to exposure in water. A long-term shear modulus prediction model was developed to relate the tendon torsional shear stiffness and the moisture concentration and the results appeared to agree well with the experimental findings.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 04014059 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Journal of Composites for Construction |
| Volume | 19 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Early online date | 2 Sep 2014 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jun 2015 |
Keywords
- Carbon fiber reinforced polymer
- Durability
- Prediction model
