Fast joining of composite pipes using UV curing FRP composites

In this paper, twelve butt-weld composite pipe joints were prepared. Among them, six were prepared using ultraviolet (UV) curing fiber reinforced plastics (FRPs) and six were prepared using ambient environment curing FRPs as controls. Filament wound composite pipes were used. Each section of pipe was 304.8 mm long with a 101.6 mm inner diameter. The wet lay-up technique was used to prepare the test samples. The curing time for the UV curing samples was 40 minutes, while the curing time was 24 hours for the control samples. Both internal pressure tests and four-point bending tests were conducted on the prepared samples. The test results show that the UV curing FRP wrapped composite pipe joints achieved nearly the same bending strength as the control samples. However, the internal pressure rating achieved by the UV curing FRP coupled joints was lower than that achieved by the control samples. A finite element analysis was conducted to understand the mechanism for the lowered internal pressure rating. Based on the test and the finite element analysis results, the UV curing FRP can be used in joining composite truss structures and composite frame structures. Suggestions were made to increase the internal pressure rating of UV curing FRP coupled composite pipes. Polym. Compos. 25:298–306, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.