Homogenization of the viscoelastic heterogeneous materials with multi-coated reinforcements: an internal variables formulation

In this work, a new homogenization method to estimate the effective behavior of viscoelastic heterogeneous materials with multi-coated reinforcements is presented. Unlike classical methods that are based on the Laplace transform, the present internal variables formulation operates directly in the time domain. Using the Green’s function techniques, the micromechanical approach is based on establishing a new integral equation adapted to scale transition methods. Using this integral equation, we apply a generalized self-consistent scheme to determine the local stress concentration equations and the effective behavior of multi-coated inclusion-reinforced materials. To assess the reliability of our model, some applications to the isotropic viscoelastic heterogeneous materials with homothetic spherical inclusions are given. The model is applied to the case of two-phase and three-phase materials, and the results are compared to exact solutions. Results for three-phase materials are presented regarding the influence of soft and stiff viscoelastic interphase on the effective behavior of heterogeneous materials.