Title: Stress-strain analysis of specimens subjected to tensile loading during moisture uptake

Authors: Angelos Mintzas; Rui Miranda Guedes; Andrey Aniskevich

Addresses: Institute of Polymer Mechanics, University of Latvia, 23 Aizkraukles Str., Riga, LV-1006, Latvia ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, INEGI, EXPMAT – Experimental Mechanics and New Materials, Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal ' Institute of Polymer Mechanics, University of Latvia, 23 Aizkraukles Str., Riga, LV-1006, Latvia

Abstract: A robust and efficient numerical method for the calculation of the internal stress state that develops within structures subjected to mechanical and steady state or transient hygroscopic loading conditions, has been developed. The method encompasses a layer by layer approach whereby the structure is discretised into plies with different material properties corresponding to the different ply moisture content. The proposed method has been validated against finite element solutions, and results from its application on a fully characterised EDT (technical name) polymer binder are presented. The impact of the moisture induced viscoelastic behaviour on the structural response of the case studied is highlighted and discussed. The approach could be used for different structures operated both open-air and indoor in automotive, marine, airspace, and other applications, e.g., for interior parts in the automobile industry.

Keywords: moisture sorption; transient hygroscopic conditions; viscoelasticity; epoxy matrix; stress-strain analysis; tensile loading; automotive composites; moisture uptake; stress; strain; ply moisture content; FEM; finite element method; modelling; polymers; reinforced polymer composites.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAUTOC.2015.070563

International Journal of Automotive Composites, 2015 Vol.1 No.2/3, pp.205 - 222

Received: 26 Jul 2014
Accepted: 02 Dec 2014
Published online: 10 Jul 2015 *

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