Effects of geometry on stresses in discontinuous composite materials

Abstract
The stresses are examined in a plane unidirectional discontinuous-fibre composite when it is loaded in line with the fibres. A systematic study is presented of the effects of fibre spacing and size and nature of discontinuities. For a fibre/matrix modulus ratio of 5 a total of 18 analyses, obtained by the finite-element method, are discussed. These are for models with fibre-volume fractions of 0·3, 0·5, and 0·67, each with three different distances between fibre ends. Each model is analysed first with the end gap filled with matrix material and then with this space void. Results are confirmed by a photoelastic analysis.

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