Generalized fractional maxwell model : parameter estimation of a viscoelastic material

In this paper, we show how fractional viscoelastic models can be efficient in the modeling of linear viscoelastic behavior, increasing the fitting accuracy of classic generalized viscoelastic models, such as the Generalized Maxwell model. Experimental data (Loss and Storage modulus in the frequency domain) were retrieved from a Dynamic Mechanical Analysis test considering Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer samples. The estimated parameters, for the derived fractional viscoelastic models, were obtained through numerical optimization techniques that minimize the difference between model-predicted values and experimental data. An excellent correlation between analytical and experimental results was observed, minimizing numerical instabilities found on a previous work, for the same experimental setup.This work was financed by FEDER funds through COMPETE-Programa Operacional Fatores de Competitividade and by portuguese funds through FCT-Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia within projects PEst-C/MAT/UI0013/ 2011