Unified mean-field modeling of viscous short-fiber suspensions and solid short-fiber reinforced composites

Abstract Mean-field homogenization is an established and computationally efficient method estimating the effective linear elastic behavior of composites. In view short-fiber reinforced materials, it important to homogenize consistently during process simulation. This paper aims comprehensively reflect expand basics mean-field anisotropic viscous properties show parallelism properties. particular, Hill–Mandel condition, which generally independent a specific material behavior, revisited in context boundary conditions for suspensions. study limited isothermal conditions, incompressible fiber suspensions solid composites, both consisting isotropic phases with phase-wise constant properties, fibers are considered as rigid bodies. Based on chosen orientation state, different models compared each other, all formulated respect averaging. Within consistent modeling fluid methods can be recommended applied volume fractions up 10%. With larger, industrial-relevant, 20%, (two-step) Mori–Tanaka model lower Hashin–Shtrikman bound well suited.