Tomofumi SHISHIDO

Creep characteristics of RFFU plates

SupervisorFKyuichi MARUYAMA


RFFU plates are made from chopped pieces of FFU (Fiber Reinforced Formed Urethane) glued with resin. The creep characteristics of the RFFU plates are studied experimentally.
Flexural creep test showed that specimens undertook creep failure when the applied load was over 35-60 % of the flexural strength. Since there observed large scattering in the creep limit load, the uniformity of specimen was examined by measuring the specific gravity of cutout portions of specimen after test.

The examined results showed that the RFFU plates were not made uniformly compacted with chopped pieces, and that a couple of RFFU plates had the weakest portion at the middle. Those plates failed under the load of 35 % of the nominal flexural strength. After re-examination of the nominal flexural strength based on the distribution of specific gravity in a plate, the creep failure limit is expected at a load of 40-60% of the flexural strength.