Abstract : Experimental and numerical methods to identify the linear viscoelastic properties of flax fibre reinforced polymer (FFRP) composite are presented in this study. The method relies on the evolution of storage modulus and loss factor as observed through the frequency response. Free-free symmetrically guided beams were excited in the dynamic range of 10 Hz to 4 kHz with a swept sine excitation focused around their first modes. A fractional derivative Zener model has been identified to predict the complex moduli. A modified ply constitutive law has been then implemented in a classical laminates theory calculation (CLT) routine. Overall, the Zener model fitted the experimental results well. The storage modulus was not frequency dependant, while the loss factor increased with frequency and reached a maximum value for a fibre orientation of 70 degrees. The damping of FFRP was, respectively, 5 and 2 times higher than for equivalent carbon and glass fibres reinforced epoxy composites. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
