Numerical transient hygro-elastic analyses of reinforced Fickian and non-Fickian polymers

The present paper is devoted to the impact of water diffusion within reinforced polymer composites. The resulting ageing may damage a structure made with these materials which can no longer perform its function. In order to predict the long-term behavior of such materials in humid environments, numerical investigations can be done with the classical Finite Element Method. In this work, the FEM is used to solve uncoupled mechanical-water diffusion boundary problems. Simulations are done at the microscopic level in order to take into account the heterogeneity of the composite materials. Both the matrix and the reinforcements are assumed linear elastic materials. Two historical models of water diffusion are studied: Fick and Langmuir. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.