Modelling of thermomechanical behaviour of fibrous polymeric composite materials subject to relaxation transition in the matrix

Abstract

Abstract Background Fiber–reinforced polymer composite materials are widely used in different branches of industry due to their distinctive features such as high specific strength and stiffness and due to as considerable opportunity to formulate materials with controllable variation of properties in response to the action of external factors (smart-materials). A distinguishing feature of products made of composite materials is that the processes of product and material fabrication are inseparable. Therefore the estimation of composite properties based on the composite architecture and properties of the reinforcing fibers and matrix is a very actual task. Methods The model of polymer behavior at glass transition recently developed by the authors was generalized to the case of fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites using two approaches: one is base on the concept of free specific energy, the other – on the growth of matrix stiffness. For homogeneous materials these two approaches are of equal worth, whereas for composite materials they give different results under deformation in the transverse direction. The stiffness growth approach is more accurate, but is very expensive computationally and, is highly sensitive to the experimental data errors. Results Using the finite element method and averaging technique the thermoelastic constants of composites containing different types of fibers in the glassy and high-elastic states were calculated based on the fiber and matrix properties. Softening of the matrix has an insignificant effect on the longitudinal modulus of a composite but leads to a considerable decrease of the transverse and shear moduli. The coefficient of thermal expansion in the transverse direction is much higher than the coefficient of thermal expansion in the longitudinal direction, especially when the composite is in the high-elastic state. Conclusion The model of polymer behavior at glass transition recently developed by the authors can be generalized to the case of fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites. The thermoelastic constants of composites containing different types of fibers can be calculated from the fiber and matrix properties using the finite element method and averaging technique.