Strength of fibrous composites

Research on the effect of various factors on the strength of fibrous composites in tension, compression, shear, bending and plane stress, published in the journal Polymer Mechanics, is reviewed. The more important future trends are outlined.Presented at the 2nd All-Union Conference on Polymer Mechanics, Riga, November 10–12, 1971.Institute of Polymer Mechanics, Academy of Sciences of the Latvian SSR, Riga. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 3, pp. 553–562, May–June, 1972.     

Localization of microfailure in fibrous composites

Conclusion When a fibrous composite is loaded, the process of microfailures becomes localized in consequence of the nonuiformity of internal stresses. The degree of localization can be quantitatively characterized by the magnitude of the parameter of localization whose determination was provided in the present work. The dependence of the parameter of localization on the stress applied to the specimen can be measured experimentally from the data on the location of the coordinates of the sources of AE, and it can be calculated theoretically on the basis of the model of failure of the composite. A comparison of the theoretical model with the experimental data makes it possible to determine the magnitude of the overstresses in the fibers of the composite material and the form of the distribution function of these overstresses.Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, No. 3, pp. 437–443, May–June, 1989.     

Modern trends in the development of fibrous composites

The two main trends in the development of high-modulus composites are considered. Improved methods of calculation sensitive to the effects associated with the weak shear and transverse characteristics are reviewed. It is shown that the disadvantages of composites with a traditional arrangement of the reinforcement can be overcome. The properties of boron- and carbon-reinforced plastics with a traditional reinforcement structure are described and compared with those of three-dimensionally structured materials with two- or three-strand reinforcing. Whiskerized fiber reinforcement is also considered. A program of further research on high-modulus composites is outlined.Presented at the 2nd All-Union Conference on Polymer Mechanics, Riga, November 10–12, 1971.Institute of Polymer Mechanics, Academy of Sciences of the Latvian SSR, Riga. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 3, pp. 541–552, May–June, 1972.     

The velocities of long waves in composites with interphase imperfections

We develop a model of elastic strain of a composite material with interphase imperfections. In the context of this model we construct a continuous model of first order (theory of effective models) for stratified and unidirectional fibrous compounds. We determine the velocities of propagation of long (compared with the size of the structure) waves in any direction. We exhibit the possible characteristic regularities of the influence of interphase imperfections on the value of the velocities. Bibliography: 6 titles. Translated fromTeoreticheskaya i Prikladnaya Mekhanika, No. 26, 1996, pp. 100–105.     

On three-dimensional fibrous flaws in unidirectional fibre reinforced elastic composites

This paper examines the problem of the stress concentration at a flaw in a unidirectional fibre reinforced composite. The geometry of the flaw corresponds to a spheroidal region in which the reinforcing fibres exhibit continuity across the flaw surface. The composite containing the flaw is subjected to a uniaxial stress field which acts along the fibre direction. An exact solution is devoloped for the stress concentration factor at the reinforced flaw boundary. Typical numerical results presented in the paper illustrate the manner in which the stress concentration at the bridged flaw is influenced by the fibre volume fraction, the fibre-matrix modular ratio and the flaw geometry.     

Calculation of shrinkage stresses in fibrous composites with regular structure

The effect of the chemical and thermal shrinkage of the epoxy matrix on the structural residual stresses in plastics reinforced with anisotropic fibers has been investigated. The process of residual stress formation in all stages of a given curing regime is examined with reference to a regular triangular fiber distribution. The model of a hardening hypoviscoelastic medium [8] is used to describe the variation of the rheological properties of the matrix. The effect of the cooling rate on the residual stresses is investigated with reference to a single inclusion.Moscow Power Engineering Institute. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 3, pp. 409–415, May–June, 1976.     

Critical length and distribution of fibrous fillers and composites

The adhesion of UKN-01 carbon fibers to a PA-12 polymeric matrix is investigated by the method of testing single-fiber model composites. The distribution of critical fiber length is constructed from measurements of fragment lengths formed in the final stage of testing. Variation in the distribution of critical length is established as a result of surface treatment of the reinforcing fiber. A bimodal distribution corresponds to the initial carbon fiber, and a monomodal distribution to the treated fiber. This is explained by replacement of a physicomechanical type of interaction of the phase interface by a physicochemical interaction owing to electrochemical treatment of the fiber surface. Analysis of the results indicated that each type of interphase interaction has its own characteristic critical length. The selection of critical length has been confirmed for calculation of the interphase shear strength by the Kelly-Tyson formula.Uvikom, Moscow Oblast, Russia. Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 33, No. 1, 98–103, January–February, 1997.