Fracture of GRP Pipe bends under a Variety of Loads

Six right angled smooth pipe bends of G W consisting of E-glass reinforcement of chopped strand mat (CSM) vith polyester resin have been tested to destruction under various load conditions including internal pressure only, in-plane flexure only, and in-plane flexure combined with pressure. The pipe diameters were all nominally 250 mm and were constructed to good commercial standards. Fracture criteria are discussed in trying to predict lasds under differing complex stress conditions.