Mesoscale bounds in viscoelasticity of random composites

Abstract

Under consideration is the problem of size and response of the representative volume element (RVE) of spatially random linear viscoelastic materials. The model microstructure adopted here is the random checkerboard with one phase elastic and another viscoelastic, perfectly bonded everywhere. The method relies on the hierarchies of mesoscale bounds of relaxation moduli and creep compliances (Huet, 1995, 1999) obtained via solutions of two stochastic initial boundary value problems, respectively, under uniform kinematic and uniform stress boundary conditions. In general, the microscale viscoelasticity introduces larger discrepancy in the hierarchy of mesoscale bounds compared to elasticity, and this discrepancy grows as the time increases.