Extension of Mori-Tanaka Approach to Hygroelastic Loading of Fiber-reinforced Composites - Comparison with Eshelby-Kroner Self-consistent Model

Abstract

The scale transition model historically proposed by Mori and Tanaka to predict the average and local elastic behavior of heterogeneous structures is extended to hygro-elastic load for the first time. Explicit constitutive laws satisfying the fundamental assumptions of the model are given for the determination of the effective macroscopic coefficients of moisture expansion (CME) in composite structures by considering a jump in moisture content between the fiber and the matrix. Explicit forms are also given for the calculation of local (fiber and matrix scale) internal stress states from the localization of the macroscopic hygro-mechanical states (ply scale). Comparisons for several compositions of composite structures (volume fraction of the constituents, i.e., the epoxy matrix and the reinforcing fibers) are performed between the numerical predictions given by the Mori-Tanaka model extended to hygro-elastic load and the recently proposed Eshelby-Kroner self-consistent hygro-elastic model. Discrepancies in the calculations appearing with an increase of the reinforcing fiber volume fraction are extensively discussed to conclude on the limitations of the micro-mechanical approach developed in the present work.

Keywords

Mori-Tanaka model Eshelby-Kroner self-consistent model hygroelastic stresses fiber-reinforced composites

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