PREDICTION OF THE LONG-TERM CREEP COMPLIANCE OF GENERAL COMPOSITE LAMINATES

An accelerated-characterization procedure has been devised, refined, and implemented, and reasonably accurate predictions for T300/934 graphite-epoxy laminates have been obtained. An essential element of this characterization scheme is a viscoelastic constitutive model. The accelerated-characterization procedure was applied to a different material, namely T300/5208 graphite-epoxy. The intent was to determine if the procedure could be used confidently with the materials other than T300/934. In previous efforts the creep compliance of T300/934 laminates had been measured for a maximum time of 10**4 minutes (6. 9 days). In the present study the creep compliance of T300/5208 laminates were measured and compared with predictions for a maximum time of 10**5 minutes (69. 4 days). It was felt that this longer comparison would provide a more rigorous check of the characterization procedure.