Viscoelasticity and Composite Materials

Polymer matrix composites exhibit viscoelastic behaviour that may affect the long-term performance of the composite structure. Viscoelastic materials display energy dissipation and a memory effect meaning that past mechanical and thermal loads will alter the material. The determination of the material properties and the prediction of their long-term response requires a range of experimental, computational, and analytical techniques.

This webinar will introduce the fundamentals of viscoelasticity in polymers. These fundamentals will be used to describe common analytical techniques that may impact classical laminate plate theory, and material parameters that are required for computational and analytical models. Creep, stress relaxation, and frequency based experimental techniques will be presented including the required equipment, data processing approaches, and potential pitfalls.

Participants will gain a basic understanding of viscoelastic challenges in polymer composites, and be exposed to simple techniques for a first approximation of viscoelastic effects in their analyses.

Presenter:
Craig Merrett,
Associate Professor
Clarkson University

Content discussed in the webinar will appear on the Knowledge in Practice Centre, allowing users to access this and other content in a consistent and coherent manner.