A novel dynamic constitutive micromechanical model to predict the strain rate dependent mechanical behavior of glass/epoxy laminated composites.

In the present research, a novel dynamic constitutive micromechanical (DCM) model was developed to predict the strain rate dependent mechanical behavior of laminated glass/epoxy composites. The present model is an integration of the generalized strain rate dependent constitutive model as a constitutive model for the neat polymer, the plasticity model of Huang as a micromechanical model, and dynamic progressive failure criteria. This model is able to predict the longitudinal and transverse tensile and in-plane shear behaviors of unidirectional glass/epoxy composites with arbitrary fiber volume fractions at arbitrary strain rates. The present model can also predict the stress-strain behavior of laminated composites with different layups and fiber volume fractions at arbitrary strain rates. A comparison between the results predicted by the present model and the available experimental data showed that the model predicts the strain rate dependent mechanical behavior of glass/epoxy composites with very good accuracy. • A model for the dynamic mechanical behavior of laminated composites was presented. • The present model uses the plasticity model and dynamic progressive failure criteria. • The accuracy of the present model was evaluated by the available experimental data. • The present model is able to consider the effect of layups and fiber volume fraction. • Different failure modes in each ply of the laminated composite were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]