Residual strength of damaged glass/epoxy tubular structures

This article presents results from static and dynamic tests on thick filament wound glass/epoxy tubes. The first part involves the identification of damage initiation and its development. Ultrasonic inspection was employed first to determine projected damage areas. A large number of samples were then sectioned and polished and the true damage area was revealed by a dye penetrant technique. This has made possible detailed descriptions of damage development. The true damage area is roughly 10 times the projected area. The second part of the article is concerned with the evaluation of the influence of this damage on residual strength under hydrostatic pressure loading. The improved understanding of these phenomena and the development of predictive tools is part of an ongoing effort to improve the long-term integrity of composite structures for underwater applications.