Review of aging mechanisms, mechanical properties, and prediction models of fiber‐reinforced composites in natural environments

Abstract Fiber‐reinforced composites are widely used in civil engineering, aerospace, automotive, and medical sectors. However, these composites undergo aging due to factors such as temperature, humidity, load, and so on, during their usage. As a result, their performance deteriorates, and predicting their durability under real service conditions is a significant challenge. In order to better understand the durability of fiber‐reinforced composites, this article summarizes their microscopic aging mechanism under natural aging conditions and analyzes the changing rules of tensile, bending, and shear properties of composites under seven typical climate types, including tropical desert climate, temperate continental climate, temperate oceanic climate, Mediterranean climate, seasonal climate, tropical rainforest climate, and seawater immersion. This article reviews various durability prediction models, such as the Arrhenius model, prediction models based on residual modulus of elasticity and residual strength, and median strength regression analysis. To enhance the accuracy of aging life prediction during the natural aging process of composites, it is important to consider the influence of loads under real service conditions, incorporate different climatic types, utilize comprehensive mechanical property indices, establish an equivalent conversion relationship between natural aging and accelerated aging, and create a database with unified test standards. Highlights The aging mechanisms of FRP after exposure in natural aging environments are discussed. The tensile, bending, and shear properties of FRP after exposure under seven climate types are discussed. The predictive models are proposed for the FRP used in natural aging. The future research needs are proposed for the FRP used in natural aging.