Numerical Study on the Effect of Matrix Self-Heating on the Thermo-Visco-Plastic Response of Continuous Fiber-Reinforced Polymers under Transverse Tensile Loading

The recyclability and improved suitability for high-volume production make fiber-reinforced thermoplastic polymers (FRP) attractive alternatives for the current thermoset-based ones. However, while they are more ductile than their thermoset counterparts, their behavior is also more susceptible to environmental conditions such as humidity, temperature, and strain rate. The latter can trigger self-heating and thermal softening effects. The role of matrix self-heating in FRP subjected to transverse loading is investigated using micromechanical modeling. Particularly, the effect of self-heating, strain rate and conductivity of the fiber-matrix interface is illustrated. It is shown that local heating of the matrix is dominant for the homogenized behavior of the material. Although the global homogenized temperature increase is limited, local thermal softening can induce premature failure. It is shown that the effect of thermal softening can be more prominent with increasing volume fraction, increasing strain rate, and lower interface conductivity.