Evaluation of thermo-viscoelastic property of CFRP laminate based on a homogenization theory

The thermo-viscoelastic constitutive equation of unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) is evaluated using a numerical approach based on the finite element method (FEM) and homogenization theory. The constitutive equation of the CFRP is considered in the Laplace-transformed domain, and it is discussed on the basis of the correspondence principle, which is satisfied by each of the Laplace-transformed elastic moduli. Homogenization theory is employed to estimate the ‘homogenized elastic moduli’ of the composite composed of matrix resin and carbon fibers. Using the approximation of a generalized Maxwell model, the relaxation moduli of CFRP are obtained by numerical computation using the FEM. From the relaxation modulus of epoxy resin and elastic moduli of carbon fiber, thermo-viscoelastic properties of CFRP laminates at several temperatures can be estimated using the FEM with homogenization theory. The effectiveness of the present study is verified by comparing the experimental results and numerical calculations for the relaxation moduli of the CFRP laminates.