A Comprehensive Model for Determining Tensile Strengths of Various Unidirectional Composites

Abstract

Simultaneous fiber-failure (SFF) model that determines tensile strengths for various systems of unidirectional composites comprehensively is presented. The SFF derives the strength of unidirectional composites as a function of the single-fiber strength distribution, interfacial shear strength, and matrix strength. The point of the SFF is that a fiber group which is considered to be experiencing simultaneous fiber failures triggered by neighboring fiber failures is assumed to fail when the weakest fiber in the fiber group fails. We discuss a method to determine the magnitude of the fiber group for various systems of composites on a basis of whether a crack located near a bi-materials interface penetrates into another material or deflects along the interface. The SFF is established by integrating the magnitude of the simultaneous fiber failures into the conventional Global load sharing model.