A model for moisture absorption in cross-ply composite laminates with matrix cracks

A homogenized analytic model for average moisture uptake in composite lamin ates containing periodically distributed matrix-cracks is presented. It is shown that the model, compared to FE-calculations, well decribes moisture a bsorption in a cross-ply composite laminate containing periodically distrib uted transverse matrix cracks in the 90 degrees plies. The homogenized mode l is based on a two-phase model consisting of the crack channels and the co mposite material respectively. An analytic solution to the two-phase model for moisture uptake in composite laminates is presented. The model can be u sed to judge whether micro cracks are of importance or not concerning moist ure absorption.