Long-term Durability of Plain Weave Polymer Composites

Due to viscoelastic nature of polymer matrix time-dependent degradation in modulus, known as creep, has become a major concern in load-bearing structural applications utilizing polymer matrix composites. Despite the increasing use of woven polymer composites for such applications, published research on their long-term durability (creep) is very limited. Hence, long-term creep of polymer woven composites was investigated experimentally as well as analytically using Hexcel Corporation's F263/ T300 plain weave carbon fiber/ epoxy matrix composites. Constant load creep experiments were conducted over a wide range of temperatures, below the glass-transition temperature of polymer matrix, and stresses. While the composite exhibited linear viscoelasticity at lower stress levels at shorter creep times, its creep behavior became viscoelastically nonlinear at longer times. Since experimental determination of long-term creep for the entire service period is not