TECHNICAL PAPERS
Apr 1, 2005

Statistical Lifetime Predictions for Aramid Fibers

Publication: Journal of Composites for Construction
Volume 9, Issue 2

Abstract

This paper investigates the statistical procedures that can be used to analyze stress rupture data for aramid yarns, with a view to making reasonable predictions for the allowable prestress levels in parallel-lay ropes or fiber-reinforced polymer tendons for use as prestressing tendons in concrete structures. Two existing data sets are combined and used to illustrate the principles that are being discussed. Arrhenius, exponential, and inverse power physical models are used with Weibull and lognormal statistical distributions. A wide range of variations of the scale and shape parameters are analyzed. Various statistical criteria are used to reject models that are not statistically secure, and the Kullback-Liebler and Akaike information criteria are used to further limit and rank the possible models. The results show that there is still a large range of possible predictions for the long-term stress-rupture lifetime of aramid yarns, but also that statistical models are available for investigating further test work that needs to be carried out.

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Acknowledgment

The writer would like to acknowledge assistance from Dr. G. A. Young of the Cambridge University Statistical Laboratory. The first writer was supported by a grant from the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust.

References

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Published In

Go to Journal of Composites for Construction
Journal of Composites for Construction
Volume 9Issue 2April 2005
Pages: 106 - 116

History

Received: Jan 10, 2004
Accepted: May 17, 2004
Published online: Apr 1, 2005
Published in print: Apr 2005

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Authors

Affiliations

K. G. N. C. Alwis [email protected]
Associate Technical Professional, Kellogg Brown & Root, Springfield Dr., Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 7NL, U.K.  E-mail: [email protected]
C. J. Burgoyne [email protected]
Reader in Concrete Structures, Engineering Dept., Univ. of Cambridge, Trumpington St., Cambridge CB2 1PZ, U.K.  (corresponding author). E-mail: [email protected]

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