A micromechanical debonding analysis of fiber-reinforced composites due to curing residual stress

Abstract

The representative volume element method is used to investigate the interface debonding of fiber-reinforced composites due to curing residual stress. First, the interface debonding behavior is characterized by means of the cohesive zone model, and the effects of curing residual stresses on the fiber/resin interface debonding are also studied using the cure hardening instantaneously linear elastic model. Second, debonding envelops of the representative volume element are obtained for tension loading, shear loading and mixed loading, respectively, which indicate that the curing residual stresses will have an important influence on the maximum principal stress and have no effects on the debonding initiation location and the propagating path. Finally, the relationships between the fiber versus resin aspect ratio γ and the maximum principal stress at the fiber/resin interface of the representative volume element in fiber-reinforced composites are investigated as well.