Documents published in Scipedia

• Thermoelastic buckling analysis in composite material structures: bridging design gaps in fire resistance

  R. Pacheco-Blazquez, D. Di Capua, J. García-Espinosa

  Materiales Compuestos (2026). Vol. 09 - Comunicaciones MatComp25 (2025), (Núm. 6 - Modelos Numéricos - Fatiga y Fractura), 48

  
  

  Abstract

  The use of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites in structural applications is increasingly widespread due to their light weight and load-bearing capacity. However, their behavior under fire exposure presents unique challenges—such as thermal buckling and post-buckling response—that current regulations, including Eurocode and SOLAS, do not specifically address. This work investigates the phenomenon of thermo-inelastic buckling in composites, taking into account their flexibility, thermal degradation, and natural imperfections. A modeling approach is proposed that integrates Felippa’s corotational theory, isotropic damage models with SPROM, and thermo-mechanical coupling. These methodologies are validated across scenarios ranging from one-dimensional to three-dimensional thermal buckling, including experimental validation. The results highlight the limitations of traditional approaches based on slenderness and inelasticity, such as the Tsai-Wu method, and emphasize the need for design frameworks that incorporate structural fire response in composite materials. This work aims to bridge the gap between the growing use of these materials and the design methodologies required for fire-resistant applications.

  Abstract
  The use of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites in structural applications is increasingly widespread due to their light weight and load-bearing capacity. However, their [...]

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• Thermo-mechanical analysis of laminated composites shells exposed to fire

  R. Pacheco-Blazquez, D. Di Capua, J. García-Espinosa, O. Casals

  Engineering Structures (2020). Engineering Structures, 253 (2020) 113679

  
  

  Abstract

  This paper describes the research performed within the scope of H2020 project FIBRESHIP in the development and validation of a thermo-mechanical model to assess the fire performance of composite structures. A one-dimensional thermal model with pyrolisis is used to obtain the temperature prole across the thickness and later introduced in the thermomechanical model with a quadrilateral shell element approach. The composite constitutive model employed is the socalled Serial/Parallel Rule of Mixtures (SPROM) which has been modied to introduce the effect of the thermal deformation. A set of experimental tests are then used to validate the correctness of the numerical method proposed. The experimental data used to validate the thermal model is the classic Henderson experimental test. The thermomechanical coupling is validated against an original vertical furnace test of a FRP ships bulkhead following on the 2010 FTP Code standards. These validations demonstrate the correctness and accuracy of the proposed decoupled thermomechanical formulation.

  Abstract
  This paper describes the research performed within the scope of H2020 project FIBRESHIP in the development and validation of a thermo-mechanical model to assess the fire [...]

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• A Digital Twin for Assessing the Remaining Useful Life of Offshore Wind Turbine Structures

  R. Pacheco-Blazquez, J. García-Espinosa, D. Di Capua, A. Pastor

  Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (2024). J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2024, 12, 573

  
  

  Abstract

  This paper delves into the application of digital twin monitoring techniques for enhancing offshore floating wind turbine performance, with a detailed case study that uses open-source digital twin software. We explore the practical implementation of digital twins and their efficacy in optimizing operations and predictive maintenance, focusing on controlling the real-time structural state of composite wind turbine structures and forecasting the remaining useful life by tracking the fatigue state in the structure. Our findings emphasize digital twins’ potential as a valuable tool for renewable energy, driving efficiency and sustainability in offshore floating wind installations. These aspects, along with the aforementioned simulations, whether in real-time or forecasted, reduce costly and unnecessary inspections and scheduled maintenance.

  Abstract
  This paper delves into the application of digital twin monitoring techniques for enhancing offshore floating wind turbine performance, with a detailed case study that uses [...]

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• Methodology and application to assess thermo-mechanical buckling in composite marine structures

  R. Pacheco-Blazquez, D. Di Capua, J. García-Espinosa, O. Casals

  Ocean Engineering (2023). Ocean Engineering, Volume 267, 1 January 2023, 113002

  
  

  Abstract

  This paper describes the research performed within the scope of H2020 project FIBRE4YARD in the development of a suitable thermo-mechanical framework to analyse composite structures under fire loads. The thermo-mechanical model uses the adiabatic temperature to obtain the through-thickness distribution of temperature of the triangular shell element, this formulation is able to predict phenomena such as pyrolysis, thermo-mechanical yielding and large displacements (non-linear buckling). An application case of a load-bearing section of a container ship is shown to demonstrate the correctness of the methodology, two type of materials are considered in the analysis, traditional materials such steel and advanced materials like fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) composites.

  Abstract
  This paper describes the research performed within the scope of H2020 project FIBRE4YARD in the development of a suitable thermo-mechanical framework to analyse composite [...]

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• Thermo-mechanical analysis of laminated composites exposed to fire

  D. Di Capua, J. García-Espinosa, R. Pacheco-Blazquez, O. Casals, T. Korhonen, T. Hakkarainen, A. Paajanen

  VIII International Conference on Computational Methods in Marine Engineering (Marine 2019), Gothenburg (Sweden)

  
  

  Abstract

  This presentation introduces a numerical model for the thermo-mechanical analysis of laminated composite structures under the fire action. The coupling between the thermal and mechanical behaviour is considered in weak form (temperatures field modify mechanical properties but displacements field do not modify thermal properties). The thermal part of model is based on the approach presented in Henderson et al. (1985). This model takes into account the energy transfer processes of heat conduction, pyrolysis of the polymer matrix, and diffusion of decomposition gases. The mechanical behaviour of the composites is based on the serial/parallel mixing theory (Rastellini et al., 2008) which is modified to take into account the thermal degradation of the mechanical properties. Numerical results obtained with this model are compared with some experimental tests presented in the literature. Application of the developed model to the analysis of fire scenarios in composite ships is evaluated.

  Abstract
  This presentation introduces a numerical model for the thermo-mechanical analysis of laminated composite structures under the fire action. The coupling between the thermal [...]

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