Modelling accelerated ageing in polymer composites

This is an in-depth review of the many aspects of the modelling and ageing of composite materials. The chapter both overlaps, complements and adds to information in other chapters reinforcing this overall topic and the fundamental understanding of the physical, chemical and mechanical ageing of composite materials. Contents: Introduction. Definition of environmental conditions and important variables. Degradation mechanisms and processes. Modelling time-dependent mechanical behaviour. Modelling mechanical degradation. Modelling physical ageing. Modelling hygrothermal effects. Modelling chemical ageing. Methodology for accelerated testing based on modelling approach. Accelerated long-time mechanical behaviour. Accelerated mechanical degradation. Accelerated physical ageing. Accelerated hygrothermal degradation. Accelerated thermal degradation and oxidation. Validation of acceleration procedure by comparison with real-time data. Future trends. References.