The influence of fire on the design of polymer composite pipes and panels for offshore structures

Stainless and other high quality steels are used extensively in the topsideconstruction of oil rigs. Steel is heavy, expensive and even the special gradesare prone to corrosion in the aggressive marine environment. New materialsare needed which are lighter, more cost effective and free from corrosionrelated problems. Glass fibre reinforced plastics (GRP) have the requiredproperties but their performance in fire conditions is not known.Fire is a very real and possibly catastrophic threat. Before specifying the useof GRP components it is essential to quantify their reaction to fire. Panels andpipes to be used in fire risk areas were the components of interest, and theobjectives of the research, based on experimental testing, were as follows:1) To evaluate GRP laminates for use as structural panel skins, noting theirstructural and fire performance.2)To develop incombustible, low cost cores for sandwich panels.3) To produce sandwich panel design proposals which satisfy specified fireexposure requirements.4)To assess the fire performance of empty and dry, stagnant water filledand flowing water filled polymer composite pipes with or without fireprotection.5) To use finite difference modelling as part of the design process for fireexposed pipes and panels. Factors of water content for hygroscopiccores and the ablation mechanism of fire exposed GRP were takenaccount of.6) To assess the validity of the standard furnace fire resistance test withrespect to combustible materials, and with respect to the reproducibilityof results between different furnace arrangements