A nonlinear viscoelastic characterization of graphite/epoxy composites

A nonlinear viscoelastic model based on the procedure of Findley et al., (1948) has been used to accurately represent the creep of several graphite/epoxy composites. Applying this approach to unidirectional 0, 90 and 10 deg off-axis tensile specimens, the viscoelastic response of a lamina can be characterized. The resulting lamina model has been useful for representing the behavior of a lamina in a numerical procedure to predict creep and delayed failures of general laminates. Also, independently, the Findley procedure has been used to characterize the nonlinear viscoelastic behavior of general laminates.