The sources of inelastic behavior of Glass Fibre/Vinylester non-crimp fabric [±45]s laminates

Abstract

The non-linear and time-dependent stress—strain response of NCF [±45]s laminates in tension is studied. Testing methodology is suggested to separate and quantify the effect of damage development, non-linear viscoelastic effects, and viscoplasticity on the inelastic response. This is achieved by decomposition of viscoelastic and viscoplastic response, both of them being affected by microdamage accumulated during the service life. Material model based on Schapery’s work on viscoelasticity and Zapas viscoplastic function with added damage terms is presented and used. Simulation is performed and validated with constant stress rate tensile tests, identifying the non-linear viscoelasticity and viscoplasticity as the major sources of the non-linear response.