Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM
Composite materials with a thermoplastic matrix have a range of attractive properties, but are subject to creep deformation at higher temperatures. The creep behavior of fiber-reinforced polymers can be determined in retardation experiments under tensile, compressive and flexural loads in a controlled atmosphere (temperature and humidity) according to DIN EN 843. Displacement transducers or optical measuring techniques continuously measure sample deformation. The experimental results are employed to establish material models describing the viscoelastic behavior in FEM analyses.