Moslem Najafi - PhD student, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
Abolfazl Darvizeh - Associate Profesor Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
Reza Ansari - Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

One of the issues with the widespread use of polymer matrix composites (PMCs) in marine applications istheir high susceptibility to environmental degradation. Therefore, the present research intends to contribute to thebetter protection of the marine PMCs through the introduction of a newly developed fiber metal laminate (FML) formarine applications. This type of FML consists of a marine aluminum alloy of 5083 alternating with glass fiberreinforced epoxy composite layers. In order to evaluate the characterization of the environmental durability of thisnovel material, the specimens made of FMLs as well as commercial woven glass/epoxy (WGE) composites were exposedto hygrothermal aging and hygrothermal cycling in boiling salt water. Then, to study the structural degradation causedby exposure to salt water, the mechanical properties of FML and WGE specimens under three-point bending andimpact loading were evaluated.

Fiber metal laminate (FML), Woven glass/epoxy (WGE) composites, Salt water, Flexural properties, Impact strength