Finite volume based asymptotic homogenization of viscoelastic unidirectional composites

Abstract

The previously developed finite volume based asymptotic homogenization theory designed for unidirectional composites with finite-sized microstructures is further extended to non-ageing linear viscoelastic region via correspondence principle. The theory is a unified framework able to accommodate general loadings, both out-of-plane and in-plane. It first transforms the problems in time domain to Laplace domain via elastic–viscoelastic correspondence principle, solves the problems in transformed region, and transforms the solutions back to time domain through numerical inversion technique. In Laplace domain, the microscale problems are solved up to the third term of expansion, and the homogenized stiffness tensors of all orders are passed to the macroscale, leading to the solutions of macroscale displacements. The method’s capability is assessed through comparison with direct numerical solution, showing increasing accuracy with increasing truncation order and decreasing scale ratio, and further enhancement by reconstructing boundary layer. The robustness of theory is verified through parametric studies. The possibility of reducing the highest order of spatial derivative of homogenized displacement is also investigated. The finite volume based methodology marks the theory’s uniqueness among the existing higher order asymptotic homogenization methods, providing an efficient alternative to solve the viscoelastic composite structural problems.