Shahrood University of Technology Journal of Solid and Fluid Mechanics 2251-9475 10 3 2020 09 22 Dimensional characteristic of glass/epoxy composite plate with edge notch under wet freeze-thaw cycles Dimensional characteristic of glass/epoxy composite plate with edge notch under wet freeze-thaw cycles 219 231 1936 10.22044/jsfm.2020.8704.2972 FA M. Abedi Faculty of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran A. Aliabadi faculty of mechanical and energy engineering, shahid beheshti university, tehran, iran Seeyd E. Mosavei R. Sarfaraz Faculty of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran Journal Article 2019 07 16 Freezing water in the surface cracks of wind turbine blades can remarkably deteriorate its mechanical properties. In order to investigate this phenomena, a finite element model is developed to simulate the icing process in a small scale fiber reinforced composite beam with a sharp notch. The load exerted from the ice onto the beam is calculated by using the model taking into account the expansion of water at freezing temperature. Based on this technique, a new parameter, called the ice expansion effect, is introduced and employed to study the influence of notch opening angle and the beam thickness on the distribution of stress and strain along the notch faces. Compromising between the actual problem, in-service damaged blades, and the existing standard which is commonly applied for characterization of fracture behavior of composite materials, an optimum geometry is designed for experimental investigations. The experimental results acquired from small scale composite beams based on the designed geometry and simultaneously imposed to humidity and freezing temperature demonstrate the significance of ice expansion factor on the monotonic response of the materials and structures conditioned at different number of freeze-thaw cycles. Freezing water in the surface cracks of wind turbine blades can remarkably deteriorate its mechanical properties. In order to investigate this phenomena, a finite element model is developed to simulate the icing process in a small scale fiber reinforced composite beam with a sharp notch. The load exerted from the ice onto the beam is calculated by using the model taking into account the expansion of water at freezing temperature. Based on this technique, a new parameter, called the ice expansion effect, is introduced and employed to study the influence of notch opening angle and the beam thickness on the distribution of stress and strain along the notch faces. Compromising between the actual problem, in-service damaged blades, and the existing standard which is commonly applied for characterization of fracture behavior of composite materials, an optimum geometry is designed for experimental investigations. The experimental results acquired from small scale composite beams based on the designed geometry and simultaneously imposed to humidity and freezing temperature demonstrate the significance of ice expansion factor on the monotonic response of the materials and structures conditioned at different number of freeze-thaw cycles. https://jsfm.shahroodut.ac.ir/article_1936_489a4fb6b72c9c56a307fc7944863cd0.pdf