Validation of a new viscoelastic model for unidirectional polymer matrix composites by analytical and numerical homogenisation (Q6162959)

The authors resume the macroscopic viscopelastic model given by \textit{L. Di Gennaro} et al. [Eur. J. Mech., A, Solids 90, Article ID 104364, 11 p. (2021; Zbl 1486.74028)] for fiber-reinforced composite, which is based on the Cartan decomposition and which has only two relaxed functions. The Cartan decomposition refers to second-order symmetric tensors, which are represented in a basis of six second-order symmetric tensors which are orthogonal with respect to the standard inner product. A Gibbs quadratic potential, $\widetilde{\omega}$, with respect to the stress tensor $\widetilde{\sigma}$ in Cartan decomposition, leads to a linear elastic constitutive equation, expressing the small strain tensor in terms of the stress tensor, $\widetilde{\sigma}$, with (new) five material constants. We remark that Gibbs potential could be represented as $\widetilde{\omega}=\Vert\widetilde{\sigma}\Vert^2$, and the classical procedure defines the transversely isotropic elastic constitutive equations based on the symmetry group $g_4=\{Q\in\mathrm{Orth} \mid Q(\mathbf{n}_1\otimes \mathbf{n}_1)Q^T =\mathbf{n}_1\otimes\mathbf{n}_1\}$, where $Q$ is an orthogonal second-order tensor, thus avoiding the set of invariants associated with the pairs $(\sigma, \mathbf{n}_1\otimes \mathbf{n}_1)$. The so-called analytic representations for the new transversely isotropic elastic parameters are derived from the algebraic expressions of the usual transversely isotropic elastic parameters, given by \textit{Z. Hashin} [Int. J. Solids Struct. 6, 539--552 (1970; Zbl 0219.73041)] as functions of elastic constants of fibre and matrix (supposed to be isotropic) and volume fractions of two phases. The parameters are separated into two groups: $(S_{FS},S_D)$ or $(\mu_L, \mu_t)$-shear moduli, involved in the viscoelastic behaviour of the composite and controling the fibre and matrix bulk repsonse; and $(S_F,S_{FH},S_H)$ or $(E_l,\nu_{lt},k_t)$-Young modulus in the fibre direction, Poisson coefficient, transverse bulk modulus, involved in elastic behaviour. To assess the proposed macroscopic model (or to identify the model parameters), the periodic homogenization method on the representative volume element is performed as in [\textit{J. C. Michel} et al., Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng. 172, No. 1--4, 109--143 (1999; Zbl 0964.74054)], imposing the loading path in terms of appropriate macroscopic field. The comments upon the numerical methods are made and the results of the implementation in Abaqus code are represented in graphics: in Fig. 1 the dependence of the inverse of the composite parameters on the matrix isotropic shear modulus can be seen, via the analytical formulae; in Fig. 4 the time behaviour of the stiffness parameters $(1/S_{FS},1/S_D)$ is represented; these parameters being identified with the relaxation functions associated with the generalized Maxwell model with one or three elements.