A Damage Evolution Model for Viscoelastic Composite Laminates

A damage model for polymeric composite laminates operating at elevated temperatures is proposed. Viscoelastic behavior of the material is accounted for via the correspondence principle, and a variational approach is adopted to compute the temporal stresses within the laminate. Also, the effect of physical aging on ply level stress and on overall laminate behavior is included. An important feature of the model is that damage evolution predictions for viscoelastic laminates can be made. This allows us to track the mechanical response of the laminate up to large load levels, though within the confines of linear viscoelastic constitutive behavior.