Modelling the non-linear viscoelastic and viscoplastic behaviour of aramid fibre yarns

A non-linear viscoelastic viscoplastic model is proposed for the tensile behaviour of aramid fibres, based on an analysis of the deformation mechanisms of these materials. This model uses the macroscopic formulation developed by Schapery together with the plasticity concept of Perzyna. A simple identification procedure for the model parameters has been developed using creep/recovery cycles at different load levels. The identification reveals that two of the four parameters of the viscoelastic model (g(1) and alpha(sigma)) are independent of stress level. This may be due to the simple and regular nature of the fibre structure. The model enables the parameters which characterise the non-linear reversible viscoelasticity to be identified independently from those which characterise the viscoplasticity. The model predictions are compared to experimental data for a more complex load sequence and reasonable correlation is obtained.