Response of composite engineering structures to combined fire and mechanical loading and fatigue durability

Abstract The adoption of composites has been driven in recent years by various performance advantages traditionally constructed from metals, concrete, and timber strictures. However, shortcomings exist for composites in our ability to predict their performance with a level of confidence suitable for regular deployment. Certification and standardization bodies must rely on predictive methods to advancing the use of composites in various applications in the absence of years of demonstrated confidence in performance and cost. Thus, the need remains to improve our fundamental understanding of composite material performance. In this chapter, we focus on the fundamentals of structural fire response for composite materials in ship applications and mechanics of composite fatigue performance in marine and wind energy. We review the state of our understanding of our ability to predict composite material system structural fire and fatigue performance under spectrum loading and comment on future directions for research.