Numerical Finite Element Analysis of Cracked Stainless-Steel Pipe Repaired by GFRP in a Moist Environment

Bonding metallic structures with composite materials is widely considered to be the most optimal method for joining damaged and fractured structures. This method offers important advantages, such as reducing the stress intensity factor (SIF) and increasing the lifetime of the joined structure. However, hygrothermal aging is a phenomenon that can reduce the lifetime of reinforced structures made of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP). This study used numerical modeling to investigate a cracked stainless steel pipe operating in a hygrothermal environment and repaired with three patches. The main objective of this work is to determine the effect of adhesive aging due to hygrothermal damage on the repair efficiency of a cracked SA312 type 304 stainless steel pipe. The Finite Element Method (FEM) is used to evaluate the SIF as a function of applied load for different immersion times and at two different temperatures. First, the developed model was validated against literature results. A parametric study was then carried out. The obtained results showed that the adhesive maintains its stiffness for 7.5 months of immersion and that the mechanical properties of the adhesive are acceptable even at temperatures of 90°C or lower and internal pressures less than or equal to 50 bar. However, when the pressure load exceeds 50 bar (pint > 50 bar), the degradation of the adhesive becomes more significant, and the hygrothermal aging leads to variations in the mechanical properties of the joined structure. It is important to note that these results can contribute to the improvement of the existing composite repair design standard and can provide reliability for the application of GFRP in different humid environments.