Abstract
The strength of unidirectional composites is often lower in compressionthan in tension, making compressive strength an especially importantdesign criterion. Compressive strength in the fiber direction depends onthe stiffness of the matrix material, which softens over time due toviscoelastic effects, and thus lowers the strength of the composite.This reduction must be accounted for in assessing the long-termdurability of composite structures.
The dependence of compressive strength on time and temperature hasbeen investigated for a unidirectional carbon/epoxy composite material.Experimental results for strength versus time are compared withanalytical predictions based on a one-dimensional fiber microbucklingmodel and numerical results from finite element analysis.
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Violette, M.G., Schapery, R. Time-Dependent Compressive Strength of Unidirectional Viscoelastic Composite Materials. Mechanics of Time-Dependent Materials 6, 133–145 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015015023911
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015015023911