Micro/meso-analysis of polymer composites with damage evolution

Abstract

The micro/meso-mechanical approach for composites is commonly based on the analysis of a representative volume element or a so-called repeated unit cell (RUC). Through analysis of the RUC model one can predict not only macroscopic mechanical properties but also microscopic damage initiation and its propagation in composites. In this paper, we present an overview of our contributions in the following three essential areas in the micro/meso-mechanical analyses: (1) a unified form of periodic boundary conditions for the RUC modelling; (2) a nonlinear viscoelastic constitutive model for polymer matrix materials; and (3) a post-damage constitutive model based on the concept of smeared crack. Application examples combining the above three topics are presented, in which three types of glass/epoxy laminates are analyzed using finite element method. The predicted results are compared with experimental data and they are in good agreement. © 2006 Springer.