Effects of accelerated ageing on the mechanical properties of glass/epoxy laminates

This paper investigates the role of accelerated ageing tests on the mechanical properties of two affordable glass fibre-reinforced polymers. The study considers a biaxial (± 45) stitched E-glass and a twill weave woven roving E-glass fabrics combined with an epoxy matrix. A set of mechanical tests is carried out to evaluate the impact, compression after impact, tensile, flexural and interlaminar fracture behaviour of both materials for dry and aged specimens, following the recommendations of established standards. The novelty of this paper lies in the evaluation of the degradation of the mechanical properties of affordable marine composites under accelerated ageing tests for wave energy purposes. The results demonstrate that these materials can withstand long-term exposure to the harsh ocean environments where wave energy converters are deployed. While the stitched fabric laminates exhibited a more ductile response, the woven roving laminates were brittle but demonstrated a greater capacity to maintain their integrity against low-velocity impacts. Lastly, recommendations for implementing these materials for specific components of wave energy converters are provided, based on both mechanical test results and affordability.