An analytical model for assessing strain rate sensitivity of unidirectional composite laminates

This paper is concerned with modelling the high strain rate (HSR) behaviour of carbon and glass fibre-reinforced composite materials. Unidirectional (UD) composites are analysed as coated fibre bundles composed of many parallel coated fibres, where the mechanical behaviour of each coated fibre satisfies a visco-elastic model consisting of an elastic element connected in parallel with a generalised Maxwell model. Related experiments are designed and achieved on a high rate test machine to determine the material parameters in the model. The model is then used to investigate the effects of HSR on the mechanical properties of unidirectional composites. The theoretical results show a good coincidence with experimental results.