Evaluation of Compressive Behavior of Hoop Filament Wound Components: Comparison Between CFRP and BFRP Composites

Fiber-reinforced polymer composites are widely used in industrial applications due to their high specific mechanical performance. In particular, carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) are most commonly used for automotive and aerospace sectors, but their production is energy-intensive and associated with relevant environmental impacts. Therefore, the interest in natural fibers is growing. Among them, basalt fibers are used as reinforcement of polymer matrix composites since the basalt fiber-reinforced polymers (BFRPs) exhibit good mechanical properties combined with a low ecological footprint. In this context, the present study provides a comparative experimental evaluation of CFRP and BFRP tubular components realized by means of a hoop filament winding process (winding angle equal to 88°). Radial and axial compression tests were performed according to ASTM D2412 and ASTM D695 standards to assess pipe stiffness, maximum compressive stress, and failure mechanisms. It was demonstrated that the fiber type strongly influences compressive behavior and damage mechanisms. Furthermore, the main results show that CFRP components are characterized by the highest pipe stiffness, approximately equal to 8.9 MPa with respect to 6.0 MPa of BFRP ones, while BFRP samples demonstrate a more elastic and progressive deformation behavior under radial loading. Both materials exhibit similar peak stress values under axial compression tests, equal to about 60 MPa, due to the load direction, which is perpendicular to the fiber orientation; thus, the mechanical properties are assimilable to those of the matrix.