Coupled damage and moisture-transport in fiber-reinforced, polymeric composites (Q1089201)

This paper presents a mathematical model for the coupling between moisture diffusion and damage in fiber-reinforced, polymeric composites. In these materials, moisture was observed to cause damage by a multitude of minute debondings at the fiber-matrix interfaces. The model employs concepts of continuum damage theory to describe those debondings. Formal evolutionary expressions are derived and related to the extent of damage, the stress field, moisture content and moisture gradient. The effects of damage on moisture diffusion and on reductions in moduli are also formulated. Qualitative comparisons with experimental results are provided.