TY - JOUR A1 - Hörold, Andreas A1 - Schartel, Bernhard A1 - Trappe, Volker A1 - Gettwert, V. A1 - Korzen, Manfred T1 - Protecting the structural integrity of composites in fire: Intumescent coatings in the intermediate scale N2 - The fire behaviour of light-weight material used in structural applications is regarded as the main challenge to be solved for mass transportation. The task is to perform realistic experiments, including a mechanical test scenario under fully developed fires, to improve the material's reliability in structural applications. Our approach utilises an intermediate-scale test set-up (specimen size 500 × 500 mm) to apply realistic compressive loads and fully developed fires directly to one side of a carbon-fibre-reinforced sandwich composite. Three different intumescent coatings were applied to sandwich structures and compared to a bench-scale study. The results emphasise intumescent coatings as a promising method to sustain fire resistance, multiplying the time to failure. Nevertheless, the realistic intermediate-scale test using severe direct flame application underlines the extremely short failure times when the actual composite components are tested without any additional insulation. KW - Carbon-fibre-reinforced KW - Fire stability KW - High-temperature properties KW - Mechanical testing KW - Fully developed fire KW - Post-crash scenario PY - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1177/0731684415609791 SN - 0731-6844 SN - 1530-7964 VL - 34 IS - 24 SP - 2029 EP - 2044 PB - Technomic Publ. Co. CY - Westport, Conn. AN - OPUS4-35120 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schartel, Bernhard A1 - Humphrey, J.K. A1 - Gibson, A.G. A1 - Hörold, Andreas A1 - Trappe, Volker A1 - Gettwert, V. T1 - Assessing the structural integrity of carbon-fibre sandwich panels in fire: Bench-scale approach N2 - The fire resistance of lightweight sandwich panels (SW) with carbon fibre/epoxy skins and a poly(methacryl imide) (PMI) foam core is investigated in compression under direct application of a severe flame (heat flux=200 kW m−2). A bench-scale test procedure was used, with the sample held vertically. The epoxy decomposition temperature was quickly exceeded, with rapid flash-over and progressive core softening and decomposition. There is a change in failure mode depending on whether the load is greater or less than 50% of the unexposed failure load, or in other words if one or two skins carry the load. At high loads, failure involved both skins with a single clear linear separation across each face. There is an inflection in the failure time relationship in the ∼50% load region, corresponding to the time taken for heat to be transmitted to the rear face, along with a change in the rear skin failure mode from separation to the formation of a plastic hinge. The integrity of the carbon front face, even with the resin burnt out, and the low thermal diffusivity of the core, both play key roles in prolonging rear face integrity, something to be borne in mind for future panel design. Intumescent coatings prolong the period before failure occurs. The ratio of times to failure with and without protection is proposed as a measure of their effectiveness. Apart from insulation properties, their adhesion and stability under severe fire impact play a key role. KW - Carbon fibres KW - Sandwich KW - Structural composites KW - Fracture KW - High-temperature properties KW - Surface treatments PY - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2018.11.077 SN - 1359-8368 VL - 164 SP - 82 EP - 89 PB - Elsevier AN - OPUS4-46908 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -