Testing a Composite Material for Boat Building

What about compression and expansion strengths?

Pls. refer classificaiton society (ABS, LR i.e.) rules and guides for composites.

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Tests and testing procedure depend on what applications you are looking at. With composites you should be very careful about the manufacturing process, otherwise you may encounter the problem of bonding / delamination and all the mechanical properties would go haywire.

Whatever you use, make sure that there is a proper repair procedure that a) works b) gives normal strength of better c) can be paid for insofar that it is either cheaper than the competition or at least comparable in that respect.

Otherwise high insurance/repair costs may put people off using your method.....or your boats....

I believe that you can find information to answer your question on the web.

ABYC (American Boat and Yacht Council) is one source,

T-19 — Fabrication Equipment, Procedures, and Materials Quality Control

This Technical Information Report presents guidelines for equipment, procedures, and inspection and testing of materials used in the fabrication of FRP laminates.

This Technical Information Report applies to the fabrication of FRP hulls and component parts including:

1. selection and use of equipment,
2. recommendations and considerations concerning fabrication procedures, and
3. inspection and testing of constituent materials.

Standard History:

First Published Revised Dates 1990

Purchase this document

You might contact Lloyd's on London, I know that they have standards that must be met before a boat can be insured with them.

You may need to meet several testing standards before you testing results are accepted in different countries.

Regards, Mike

you may also want to look into an "Elcometer" or surface adhesion tester, a device to test the ratings at what pressures you can pull laminations apart - this would be an invaluable tool during the manufacturing process to assure that adhesive (and indirectly cohesive) properties are maintained in the matrix - one that is used typically by 'friends in the business' -

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Adhesion Tester

A test dolly is bonded to the coating using an adhesive. The [tester] houses a spring arrangement which applies a lift force to the dolly.

When the dolly is pulled off the surface, an indicator on the scale shows the numerical value of adhesion expressed in terms of the force required to remove the dolly.

Used in accordance with ASTM D4541, ISO 4624 and BS EN 24624 test methods.

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good luck

Jim

Depends on the certifications desired and regulating body, ABS American Bureau of Shipping, US Coast guard, US Navy etc.

I used to do Tensiles, Bends, In-plane shear, % resin/%glass, ply count, Barcol hardness, fire resistance, on an initial hull sample then %resin/%glass, ply count Barcol hardness on subsiquent hulls for multiple craft of same design.

Google ASTM and search composite testing for standards. Don't remember all off the top of my head but AStM D638,D790,D2734 seem right.

Hull damage is usually either delimination from environmental conditions or impact. I would prepare test coupons for salt spray followed by the above delamination load test and for impact. Tensile strength is less important, since only the keel area is normally in tension and that is usually the thickest part of the hull.

(Former sail boat owner and ME, not a marine engineer.)

Hello

Thanks a lot for your advices and opinions which have helped me to solve more than half of the problem. God will bless you abundantly for your free education.

E E Runyoro