The workshop is expected to present current experimental, computational, and theoretical advances leading to: a) the characterization of long-term properties and modeling of the life performance of these polymers and polymer composites; b) an improved understanding of the underlying microstructural processes and mechanisms that cause time-dependent degradation in these structures. Special focus will be on the performance of these structures under coupled mechanical and non-mechanical external stimuli, i.e. thermal, moisture, chemical effects. The workshop shall provide opportunities for close interactions and communication among experimental and theoretical researchers, as well as people from industry.
The topics include, but are not limited to: theoretical, computational, and experimental studies on diffusion in polymers; modeling and testing of microstructural changes in polymers in response to external thermal, mechanical and moisture conditions, including oxidation and chemical degradation; mechanics and multi-scale modeling of constitutive behavior; material degradation and failure under cyclic loadings; new damage detection techniques. The workshop will have a single session during the entire meeting to engage all attendees in discussion.