Discrete element modelling on creep behaviour of PI/SiO2composite

In this paper, a two-dimensional discrete element model (DEM) was adopted to predict the creep behaviour of polymer matrix particle reinforced composite PI/SiO2. The polymer matrix was simulated by regularly and closely compacted disks which were bonded together with viscoelastic Burger’s model. The parameters of the Burger’s bond model were derived based on their macroscale material properties. The elastic filler particles with different contents randomly distributed in the models and bonded with the neighbouring matrix disks. Tensile tests of the PI/SiO2 composite with different SiO2 contents under constant loading were performed based on the developed DEM models. The creep strain curves were presented and compared with finite element method (FEM) results. The favourable agreement between the DEM results and the FEM results indicate that the viscoelastic DEM model developed in this study is very capable of simulating constitutive behaviour of PI/SiO2 composites.