Time-dependent response of thermoplastic matrix composite material under the cyclic loadings

Under the service conditions, steel pipelines coated with the thermal protection system are subjected to cyclic loadings of axial tension and hydrostatic pressure. The finite element method generally used to simulate the behavior of composite structures under these loadings allows us to estimate the stresses generated in the system and to conclude on several origins of damage. However, for the framework of displacement or deformation analyses in such multilayer systems, these calculations do not allow a better prediction of their behavior. The methods used do not take sufficiently into account the characteristics of the different coating materials to predict their response in service conditions under cyclic loading. In this paper, we consider the viscosity of the thermoplastic materials used for the five layers coating system. Finite element calculations allow us to observe the areas of highest stress concentration at the interface with the steel pipe. Simulations allowed us to observe that the applied loads lead to increases in residual deformation in the thermoplastic matrix composite material. Cyclic tensile loading causes cracks in the matrix of the syntactic foam material. The study carried out here makes it possible to justify the origin of the failure mechanism in the composite material at the time of the installation of the pipelines which could limit the duration of their use in an offshore environment. The tensile failure of the syntactic foam considered as the polypropylene matrix composite material on which cyclic loads have been applied, is due to the stress level at a given temperature.