TY - GEN A1 - Schartel, Bernhard T1 - Composites in fire: Intermediate-scale testing of sandwich panels and shells N2 - Intermediate-scale testing is indispensable when investigating the fire resistance under simultaneous compressive load of components made of glass- and carbon-fibre-reinforced composites (GFRP and CFRP). BAM is successfully operating an intermediate-scale test stand, developed for a specimen size of 500 mm x 500 mm (1000 mm). The fire resistance in terms of fire stability of CFRP and GFRP sandwiches are investigated, e.g. at 20 % of their compressive failure load at room temperature. Times to failure increase by up to a factor of 4 due to intumescent coatings. For GFRP sandwiches, different core structures with and without additional flame retardants show an astonishing impact on time to failure. CFRP shell structures are investigated on the intermediate scale with and without stringer reinforcements, resulting in completely different mechanical failure behaviour in the ultimate load test as opposed to the fire resistance test. The stringers become the only load-carrying part, while the shell acts as a protective layer. Thus the design exploiting this self-protection potential, i.e. the residue of the front skin protecting the load-bearing structure, is highlighted as a most promising route to enhance the fire resistance of lightweight materials. T2 - Interflam 2016, 14th International Interflam Conference CY - Egham, UK DA - 04.07.2016 KW - Composites KW - Carbon fibre KW - Shells KW - Sandwich panels KW - Fire resistance KW - Fire stabiliy KW - Stringer reinforced components PY - 2016 UR - https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-bam/frontdoor/index/index/docId/36870 AN - OPUS4-36870 AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany