Effects of constructing different unit cells on predicting composite viscoelastic properties

A computational algorithm of volume average for three-dimensional unit cell model is established to predict the viscoelastic properties of composite materials consisting of linear viscoelastic matrix and transversely isotropic elastic fibers. Several repeating unit cells (RUCs) are constructed with square, hexagonal and random fiber packing to compare the predicted results of composite viscoelastic properties. Proper periodic boundary conditions and necessary physical constraints which are used to stop rigid body motions of the RUCs are implemented. The influences of the ways to construct the RUCs on the predicted results of composite viscoelastic properties are discussed. Some interesting remarks are drawn from the present study. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.