Development of a multiphysics model of synergistic effects between environmental exposure and damage in woven glass fiber reinforced polymeric composites

Extending the application of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials into the automotive, aerospace and military manufacturing is a significant advance in recent years. However, few extending have been achieved in civil infrastructure and building construction industry. This gap is partly due to (i) the lack of multiphysics and multiscale models unifying degradation-deformation damage phenomena to assess the safety and durability of newly adopted or proposed material and structural systems, and (H) no available computational models that are succinctly fundamental and directly interactable with other digital files from architecture designer or manufacturer. To begin addressing this gap, this paper presents a structure level multiphysics model that uses the UV and moisture deterioration variables homogenized from a micromechanics model to integrate a nonlocal continuum damage model in a curvilinear coordinate system. This model links the application of analysis to the architecture or manufacturing digital model by enabling more accurate predictions of mechanical performance. An example of the model is presented for analysis of a group of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite plates in SFMOMA Facade System, the first and largest architectural application of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) in the United States.

Automated summary

This paper introduces a structure level multiphysics model that integrates a nonlocal continuum damage model in a curvilinear coordinate system using UV and moisture deterioration variables homogenized from a micromechanics model. By linking the application of analysis to the architecture or manufacturing digital model, more accurate predictions of mechanical performance can be obtained.