A new viscoelastic model based on generalized method of cells for fiber-reinforced composites

• A new viscoelastic model is developed for fiber-reinforced composites.
• Composite viscoelastic properties are predicted by this model.
• The results correlate well with those of finite element analysis.
• This model can be used to analyze different parameters of composite materials.

A semi-analytical model is constructed to investigate the relaxation properties of polymer composites consisting of linearly viscoelastic matrices and transversely isotropic elastic fibers. A representative unit cell is subjected to some prescribed loadings to value the time-dependent properties of composite materials. The model is derived to describe the anisotropic viscoelastic properties of composite materials as functions of matrix and fiber properties. The present numerical algorithm is used to predict the viscoelastic properties of a graphite/epoxy composite and the results are compared with the finite element analysis of the micromechanical model. Very good agreement between numerical algorithm and finite element analysis results is illustrated for the viscoelastic properties of anisotropic composite materials.