On the kinetic theory of fracture based on thermomechanical properties for fatigue life prediction of filament wound carbon fiber/epoxy composite cylindrical shell

This work presents a model of kinetic theory of fracture for predicting the fatigue life of carbon fiber/epoxy composite ring from a combination of thermogravimetric analyses and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of mechanical tests under different loading strains and investigates the effect of environmental exposure on the surface morphology, thermal, and fatigue properties of the composite ring. Three kinetic parameters of the model are first calibrated by means of experimental data. Then, the model is capable of predicting the fatigue life of the composite ring under ambient condition. Eventually, the influence of material constant on the fatigue life of the composite ring is studied. The main result of this work is the arrangement of theory and tests to fatigue life prediction, and it is found that the acetone solution has more devastating effect on reduction in the fatigue strength and thermal degradation of the composite ring in comparison to KMnO4 solution.