Effects of physical aging on long term creep polymers and polymer matrix composites (Q675421)

This paper lays out the basic concepts describing physical aging of polymers, namely the effects of aging on effective equilibrium and its relationship to the time-temperature shift factor. The physical aging theory is then extended to develop the long term compliance/modulus of a single lamina with varying fiber orientation. In the investigation of fiber oriented lamina and laminates, it is shown that the long term response can be counter-intuitive, stressing the need for using long term predictions of laminates in structural situations.