The results of the development and testing of the strength of ship structures made of composite materials elements

Currently, composite materials based on reinforcing components made of fiberglass or carbon fiber bonded with resins are used to manufacture elements of ship structures, which is associated with a lower weight of structures compared to steel and the preservation of high strength properties. The requirements for composite materials are specified in a number of regulatory documents, including the “Rules for the Classification and Construction of Naval Vessels” of the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping. The problem for the widespread use of composite materials in shipbuilding is their high cost and high costs for manufacturing the required elements from them. It is necessary to search for new, cheaper types of materials and simplify the manufacturing technology of ship structures from them, but with the required strength characteristics and compliance with other requirements for materials used in shipbuilding. The results of the author's development of structural elements from a composite material of two compositions are presented: the first is the epoxy compound Noapox 7550, a hardener and a polymer thread; the second is the epoxy adhesive EDP and a polymer thread. As a result, sheet structures (mats) with a thickness of up to 5 mm were produced, which can be used for the manufacture of both hull elements and superstructure elements of small vessels. The manufacture of structural elements from composite materials was carried out on the basis of manual contact open forming in the laboratory of outboard motors of the Astrakhan State Technical University with subsequent tests to determine the actual strength parameters in the laboratory for the study of wear and testing of materials of the Volga State University of Water Transport. As a result of the tests of a series of five samples, it was found that the composite material based on the epoxy compound Noapox 7550 had an average value of the time resistance parameter during tensile testing of 22.8 MPa, the average value of the yield strength of 21.2 MPa, and the material based on epoxy adhesive EDP, the average values of these parameters were 15.1 and 9.3 MPa, respectively.