Comparison of analytical and finite element solutions for monitoring the self-generated temperature in the fatigue test of novel continuous glass fiber-reinforced Elium thermoplastic composites

There is an increasing trend toward thermoplastic matrix composites in the automotive industry, and the most significant damage type is owing to fatigue. A set of fatigue tests takes days, especially under low load/stress conditions. However, this can be shortened by predicting fatigue life with accurate analytical solutions. The scope of the study includes comparing the fatigue life model with the conventional method, determining its advantages and weaknesses, a comparison of the model with the experimental result, a demonstration of the self-generated temperature mechanism by finite element method, and performing validation tests. Hysteresis curves were prepared using these temperature changes and the data recorded during the experiment. The temperature change on the surface has been compared with the analytical calculations and finite element method. At the same time, computer-aided determination of the results obtained in the tests and observation of the distribution of the temperature increase on the material's surface by finite element method have been discussed. According to these results, the difference between the measurements made with the thermal camera and the analytical temperature model is at most 5.41%. The difference between the measurements made with the finite element and the IRT camera is at most 9.62%. Additionally, the temperature change prediction of the samples in the 0/90 orientation is more accurate than that of the 0/90/45 sample.