Evaluation of dynamic mechanical properties of unidirectional composites in relation to their morphology

We were interested in the dynamic mechanical behavior of unidirectional composites from E-glass fibers and an epoxy matrix with several glass fiber contents ranging from 43% to 68%. A method is proposed for the determination of the viscoelastic response of such reinforced material, based on successive applications of the three-phase self-consistent analysis proposed by Christensen and Lo. When we apply this model in consecutive steps, we can take into account some morphological features including nonuniform arrangement of the fibers in the transverse plane with clustering or connecting arrangements as well as particular strengthening effects of the polymer in the interphase.