Stress transfer modeling in viscoelastic polymer matrix composites

A viscoelastic analysis of a single fiber unidirectional composite model is carried out to investigate the time-dependent stress transfer between an e lastic fiber and a viscoelastic matrix for loading in the axial direction. The stress state in the composite is solved at incremental time intervals t o obtain the stabilized solution? and the time required to reach a stable s tate. The results obtained from a linear viscoelastic analysis are compared with the corresponding result obtained by using a non-linear "clock" model for the viscoelastic matrix. It is found that the non-linear analysis pred icts a significantly lower stabilization time to reach the same final stres s state. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.