A micro/macro homogenization approach for viscoelastic creep analysis withdissipative correctors for heterogeneous woven-fabric layered media

The analysis of heterogeneous structures containing micromechanical details is an active area of interest in composite materials. The present investig ation proposes a novel finite-element approach for studying the viscoelasti c creep problem in dual length-scale heterogeneous materials. To illustrate the approach, constituents at the micro-level are assumed to be isotropic single-parameter Kelvin-Voigt viscoelastic solids. Of the various homogeniz ation approaches; because of its inherent advantages, the asymptotic expans ion homogenization (AEH) approach is employed to resolve the multi-scale is sue. Of key interest is the observation of the so-called dissipative correc tor, a direct result of the mathematical derivation of the homogenized cons titutive equation. Physically, it is due to the junction of dissimilar diss ipative materials at the micro-level but it is required to ensure satisfact ion of the equilibrium equations at both length scales. The analytical and computational developments employ existing material properties and constant s to determine all relevant homogenized properties. A closed-form solution it; employed to verify the present formulations for a degenerated case of a homogeneous viscoelastic material subject to constant creep. Several test cases are also presented to illustrate the observations for a microstructur e resembling layered woven fabric composites. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd . All rights reserved.