Assessment of Lifeboat Laminate Strength

Abstract

The objective of this work was to assess the material strength of conventional lifeboat composites and to examine the effect that particular factors have on the strength, using design of experiments methods. The research was a direct response to the growing need for information pertaining to the performance of lifeboats in ice-covered waters. Evaluating the strength of lifeboat laminates was completed through two test programs. The first focused on assessing the tensile strength while the second examined the impact strength.