Durability analysis and Lifetime Prediction Methodologies for Composite Materials

Dear Colleagues,

Efforts devoted to predicting the mechanical behavior of polymer-based composites using the properties of its basic constituents have achieved considerable success. This is remarkably true for short-term analysis. Understandably, when it is necessary to evaluate the performance of fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) in service conditions for ten or more years, more complex, costly and time-consuming testing methodologies come into play. Meanwhile, the success of FRP as structural material derives from several specific features: lower weight, high specific strength and specific stiffness, and resistance to corrosion. Yet, actual knowledge on environmental effects combined with mechanical loading on properties of these materials is still defective in spite of many attempts and prevents accurate lifetime predictions. This highlights the strong need for expeditious and affordable methodologies to accurately predict the time evolution of the mechanical properties of these materials in different but realistic mechanic–thermo-hygrometric loading conditions and to determine the residual service lifetime of a structure working in widely variable conditions. Accelerated testing methodologies are important tools to rapidly estimate the long-term performance of composites either to extract the parameters of constitutive laws or to assess the modeling predictions. Different approaches developed in the meantime have become available in literature, and some are included in standards for composites’ long-term characterization.

This Special Issue aims to update the state-of-the-art on durability analysis of polymer-based composites concerning their characterization, modeling, and prediction assessment on a long-term basis. It comprises all phenomena affecting long-term performance of composites, including viscoelastic, viscoplastic, relaxation, creep, fatigue, temperature, moisture, time-dependent intralaminar and interlaminar cracking, ultraviolet radiation, oxidation, and aging, among others. Design for durability, health monitoring, and case studies on failures due to creep and other time-dependent effects are relevant aspects deserving full attention in this issue.

It is my pleasure to invite you to submit your research for this Special Issue. Full papers, communications, and reviews are all welcome.

Prof. Dr. Rui Miranda Guedes
Guest Editor

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• creep
• viscoelasticity
• viscoplasticity
• composites
• long-term
• accelerated testing
• delayed failure
• aging
• moisture
• fatigue