Effects of fiber aspect ratio evaluated by elastic analysis in discontinuous composites

An elastic stress analysis to investigate the effects of fiber aspect ratio in short fiber reinforced discontinuous composite materials has been done for different fiber volume fractions. In order to examine the elastic internal behavior, an evaluation of the load bearing capacity of discontinuous reinforcements is needed in advance. Accordingly, analytical derivation of composite mechanics has been carried out to predict fiber stresses and fiber/matrix interfacial shear stresses in discontinuous composites. The model is based on the theoretical development of conventional shear lag theory developed by Cox. However, the major shortcoming of the Cox model is due to the calculation without normal stress transfer from the end of fibers. In order to overcome the shortcoming, both of the normal and shear stress transfer mechanisms between the fiber and the matrix are accounted for with the stress concentration effects as well as material and geometrical properties. Results of predicted stresses concerning the various fiber aspect ratios are described by using the present model that is the closed form solution and compared with the Cox model and Taya model. It is found that the effect of fiber aspect ratio is significant to composite strengthening through load transfer from the matrix to the fiber, whereas the effect of fiber volume fraction is not so sensitive, relatively. It is also found that the present model has the capability to correctly predict the values of fiber stresses and fiber/matrix interfacial shear stresses.     

Stress transfer in shear deformable discontinuous composites

It is well known that the shear lag theory is not to provide sufficiently accurate strengthening predictions when the fiber aspect ratio is small. This is due to its neglect of stress transfer across the fiber ends and the stress concentrations that exist in the matrix regions near the fiber ends. In this paper, a new approach to investigate stress transfer mechanisms in shear deformable discontinuous composites is proposed to overcome the shortcoming of shear lag theory. The modification scheme is based on the replacement of the matrix between fiber ends with the fictitious fiber to maintain the compatibility of displacement and traction. Thus, the proposed model takes fiber end effects into account and results in fully closed form solutions. It was found that the proposed model gives a good agreement with finite element results and has the capability to correctly predict the values of interfacial shear stresses and local stress variations in the small fiber aspect ratio regime.     

间断式纤维增强热塑性基复合材料应力应变场分析

用有限元法通过引入一个单胞模型和适当的边界条件，分析了间断式纤维增强复合材料在外部载荷作用下复合材料内部应力－应变场的变化规律，比较了基体在弹性和弹塑性条件下纤维、纤维与基体界面应力分布的特点。     

Analysis of the strengthening mechanism based on stress-strain hysteresis loop in short fiber reinforced metal matrix composites

The strengthening mechanism of short fiber or whisker reinforced metal matrix composites has been studied by a continuum mechanics treatment utilizing finite element analysis (FEA). To assess the tensile and compressive constitutive responses, a constraint-unconstraint comparative study based on stress-strain hysteresis loop has been performed. For analysis procedures, the aligned axisymmetric single fiber model and the stress grouping technique have been implemented to evaluate the domain-based field quantities. Results indicate that the development of significant triaxial stresses within the matrix both for the tensile and compressive loading, due to the constraint imposed by reinforcements, provide an significant contribution to strengthening. It was also found that fiber stresses are not only sensitive to the fiber/fiber interaction effects but also substantially contribute to the composite strengthening both for the tensile and compressive loading.     

Evaluation of elastic modulus for unidirectionally aligned short fiber composites

An analytical approach of to reinforcement for of short fiber reinforced composites has been extended to include the estimation of elastic modulus. The model is based on the theoretical development of shear lag theory developed by Cox for unidirectionally Aligned aligned Short short Fiber fiber Compositescomposites. Thus, the evolution of conventional models is described in detail along with the effect on the modulus of various parameters. Results are shown with experimental data as well as the comparison of other theories. It is found that the present model agrees well with experimental data and resolves some of the discrepancies among the previous models. It is also found that the present model is very accurate yet relatively simple to predict Young’s modulus of discontinuous composites and has the capability to correctly predict the effects of fiber aspect ratio, fiber volume fraction, and fiber/matrix modulus ratio. This paper was recommended for publication in revised form by Associate Editor Chongdu Cho Hong Gun Kim received a B.S. and M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Hanyang University in 1979 and 1984. He then went on to receive his Ph.D. degrees from University of Massachusetts in 1992, respectively. Dr. Kim is currently a Professor at the Department of Mechanical & Automotive Engineering at Jeonju University in jeonju, Korea. He is currently serving as an Editor of the KSAE and KSMTE. Dr. Kim’s research interests are in the area of fuel cell, FEM analysis, mechanical design, and composite mechanics. Lee Ku Kwac received a B.S. degree in Precision Mechanical Engineering from Chosun University in 1999. He then went on to receive his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Chosun University in 2001 and 2005, respectively. Dr. Kwac currently a Professor at the Department of Mechanical & Automotive Engineering at Jeonju University in jeonju, Korea. Dr. Kwac’s research interests are in the area of fuel cell, nano-mechanism, and micro-machining.     

注塑成型短玻纤增强复合材料各向异性弹性常数预测方法

针对注塑成型短玻纤增强复合材料,研究二阶纤维取向张量与纤维取向角度之间的连续函数关系,建立纤维均质化RVE模型。基于Taguchi正交试验设计方法,利用DIGIMAT软件对短玻纤增强复合材料RVE模型进行仿真试验,定量分析纤维质量分数（A）、纤维长径比（B）和纤维取向张量（C）对短玻纤增强复合材料力学性能的影响规律。考虑注塑成型过程中的纤维分层效应,提出了夹芯分层模型并进行铺层设计。基于灰箱理论和反求工程,选取纤维长径比、表层厚度比和芯层厚度比、表层纤维取向张量、纤维取向矢量旋转角四个影响因素,反演预测短玻纤增强复合材料PA66（GF50）正交各向异性弹性常数,与材料拉伸弹性模量E₃₃、泊松比u₃₁和泊松比u₃₂的试验结果对比,相对误差分别为0.80%、0.29%和1.35%。     

含SMA约束层的复合材料矩形板的阻尼能力分析

研究由形状记忆合(shape memory alloy，简写为SMA)SMA约束层、SMA纤维混杂叠层材料构成的复合材料矩形板的阻尼性能。采用多胞模型和细观力学阻尼分析方法，分别预测叠层复合材料单层的弹性性能和阻尼性能，在叠层材料中计入横向剪切变形的影响。在导出矩形板的应变能和耗散能的基础上，根据最大应变能理论建立板的模态阻尼比的数学表达式。数值结果表明，文中提出的含有SMA约束层的SMA纤维叠层复合材料的集成阻尼设计方法，是一种有效的阻尼增强方案。     

Micromechanical simulations of biaxial yield, hardening and plastic flow in short glass fiber reinforced polyamide

Mean-field homogenization (MFH) is used to predict the biaxial yield behavior, hardening and plastic flow of composite materials made of an elasto-plastic matrix reinforced with misaligned short fibers. The procedure is applied to short glass fiber reinforced polyamide, which represents an important industrial application of those composites. First, MFH is verified against full-field accurate finite element simulations of representative volume elements with multiple fibers. Next, a parametric study is carried out with MFH in order to predict the biaxial plastic behavior of numerous microstructures corresponding to various values of volume fraction, aspect ratio and second-rank orientation tensor components of the glass fibers. Results demonstrate the loss of both isotropic hardening and plastic flow normality, except for 2D random orientation. For illustration, a fit of Hill's orthotropic plasticity criterion is conducted for several orientation tensors.     

Stress analysis of a composite material with short elastic fibre in power law creep matrix

An approximate stress analysis of a composite material, power law creep material (matrix) reinforced by an elastic short fibre is performed by modifying the Cox model, elastic monofibre in a unit cell of an elastic matrix. The numerical calculation is performed by using aluminium (6061)-SiC (whisker aspect ratio of 10). The result obtained by using the analysis is compared with that obtained by experiments performed by a previous investigator. The result shows that composite stress obtained by the analysis is compatible with that obtained by the experiment in order of magnitude, while stress exponent obtained by the experiment is much higher than that obtained by the analysis. A correction factor relating analytical to experimental results is found and the physical meaning of the factor associated with the actual deformation process is discussed. In addition to this analysis, a rigid fibre in power law creep material (matrix) is analysed. The fibre stress distribution obtained by the analysis is compatible with that obtained by the previous investigator.     

Micro- to macroscopic responses of a glass particle-blended polymer in the presence of an interphase layer

A multi-scale model which can be used to evaluate the interaction between a microstructure and the heterogeneous deformation behavior of ternary composites on the micro- to macroscopic scale has been developed based on the large deformation finite element homogenization method. Using four different interphases consisting of a rubber, two different types of polymer and an elastic material with intermediate stiffness of particle and matrix, the elasto-plastic behaviors of the composites have been confirmed to be markedly influenced by the interphase properties and the interphase with a stiffness well below that of the matrix shows a suitable effect on the micro- to macroscopic deformation behaviors of the composites. Therefore, a computational simulation has been performed for the present interphase to clarify the effects of the macroscopic strain ratio, interphase properties and particle volume fraction on macroscopic characteristics such as deformation resistance, elasticity modulus and yield stress, and on microscopic characteristics such as shear band pattern, mean stress in the matrix and normal stress on the particle surface. The results provide guidelines for selecting interphase properties and processing parameters to achieve desired overall composite characteristics.     

Ultimate strength prediction of continuous fiber-reinforced brittle matrix composites

A model to predict ultimate strength of continuous fiber-reinforced brittle matirix composites has been developed. A statistical theory for the strength of the uniaxially fiber-reinforced brittle matrix composite is presented. Material of matrix is assumed to be homogeneous and isotropic, so that the strength of material is anywhere constant, whilst that of fiber is considered to show Weibull statistical distribution. The theory may be utilized to optimize the biaxial and multidirectional tensile strength properties of laminated materials. The composite strength is estimated by assuming no interacting matrix cracks. The frictional shear stress caused by bridging fibers is involved in the strength computation. The predicted strength is compared to experimental results with LAS-Glass/Nicalon fiber composite.     

On studies of tensile properties in injection molded short carbon fiber reinforced PEEK composite

Both elastic modulus and strength of injection molded carbon fiber filled poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) composite are studied under tension. The measured moduli and ultimate strengths of injection molded carbon fiber reinforced PEEK have been compared with the model predicted values. For injection molded PEEK composite, the experimentally obtained values of tensile modulus show a fair agreement but those of the tensile strength show a poor agreement with the theoretically predicted values. Many processing factors seem to be more critical issue for the strength than the stiffness of short-fiber reinforced composites. Considering the service performance of composites depends on three interactions — material, design and processing, monitoring the processing can be critical to have a best performance of composite. Processing factors have been discussed in cases of short carbon fiber reinforced PEEK composite based on the comparision between experimental and theoretically predicted data to obtain the best composite material.     

Eshelby-Mori-Tanaka approach for vibrational behavior of functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced plate resting on elastic foundation

In this study, based on the three-dimensional theory of elasticity, free vibration characteristics of functionally graded (FG) nanocomposite plates reinforced by randomly-oriented straight single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) resting on an elastic foundation are considered. Material properties are graded in the thickness direction of the plate according to the volume fraction power law distribution. An embedded carbon nanotube (CNT) in a polymer matrix and its surrounding inter-phase which is perfectly bonded to surrounding resin is replaced with an equivalent fiber to predict the mechanical properties of the carbon nanotube/polymer composite. The Mori-Tanaka approach is employed to calculate the effective elastic moduli of the plate. The natural frequencies of the plate are obtained by means of the generalized differential quadrature (GDQ) method. Detailed parametric studies have been carried out to investigate the influences of the CNT volume fraction, Winkler foundation modulus, shear elastic foundation modulus and various geometrical parameters on the vibration behavior of the functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced (FG-CNTR) plates.     

Fiber Traction Printing: A 3D Printing Method of Continuous Fiber Reinforced Metal Matrix Composite

A novel metal matrix composite freeform fabrication approach, fiber traction printing(FTP), is demonstrated through controlling the wetting behavior between fibers and the matrix. This process utilizes the fiber bundle to control the cross-sectional shape of the liquid metal, shaping it from circular to rectangular which is more precise. The FTP process could resolve manufacturing diffculties in the complex structure of continuous fiber reinforced metal matrix composites. The printing of the first layer monofilament is discussed in detail, and the effects of the fibrous coating thickness on the mechanical properties and microstructures of the composite are also investigated in this paper. The composite material prepared by the FTP process has a tensile strength of 235.2 MPa, which is close to that of composites fabricated by conventional processes. The complex structures are printed to demonstrate the advantages and innovations of this approach. Moreover, the FTP method is suited to other material systems with good wettability, such as modified carbon fiber, surfactants, and aluminum alloys.     

Mechanical behavior and numerical estimation of fracture resistance of a SCS6 fiber reinforced reaction bonded S13N4 continuous fiber ceramic composite

Continuous fiber ceramic composites (CFCCs) have advantages over monolithic ceramics: Silicon Nitride composites are not well used for application because of their low fracture toughness and fracture strength, but CFCCs exhibit increased toughness for damage tolerance, and relatively high stiffness in spite of low specific weight. Thus it is important to characterize the fracture resistance and properties of new CFCCs materials. Tensile and flexural tests were carried out for mechanical properties and the fracture resistance behavior of a SCS6 fiber reinforced Si₃N₄ matrix CFCC was evaluated. The results indicated that CFCC composite exhibit a rising R curve behavior in flexural test. The fracture toughness was about 4.8 MPa m^1/2 , which resulted in a higher value of the fracture toughness because of fiber bridging. Mechanical properties as like the elastic modulus, proportional limit and the ultimate strength in a flexural test are greater than those in a tensile test. Also a numerical modeling of failure process was accomplished for a flexural test. This numerical results provided a good simulation of the cumulative fracture process of the fiber and matrix in CFCCs.     

一种短切碳纤维增强塑料强度的预测方法

高性能纤维增强的先进复合材料中,短切碳纤维增强塑料因在性能上的多面性及较低的制作成本而极具吸引力.综合前人的研究成果推导了短纤维增强复合材料的强度混合法则公式,并用纤维长度效应来修正短纤维复合材料中的轴向应力分布的不均匀性,建立模型来正确估计各种参数对强度的影响规律.以短切碳纤维增强PTFE复合材料为例说明强度预测的正确性,为新材料的应用及新型结构的设计提供了依据.     

Effect of surface treatment on mechanical properties of glass fiber/stainless steel wire mesh reinforced epoxy hybrid composites

This paper investigates the effect of surface treatment for glass fiber, stainless steel wire mesh on tensile, flexural, inter-laminar shear and impact properties of glass fiber/stainless steel wire mesh reinforced epoxy hybrid composites. The glass fiber fabric is surface treated either by 1 N solution of sulfuric acid or 1 N solution of sodium hydroxide. The stainless steel wire mesh is also surface treated by either electro dissolution or sand blasting. The hybrid composites are fabricated using epoxy resin reinforced with glass fiber and fine stainless steel wire mesh by hand lay-up technique at room temperature. The hybrid composite consisting of acid treated glass fiber and sand blasted stainless steel wire mesh exhibits a good combination of tensile, flexural, inter-laminar shear and impact behavior in comparison with the composites made without any surface treatment. The fine morphological modifications made on the surface of the glass fiber and stainless steel wire mesh enhances the bonding between the resin and reinforcement which inturn improved the tensile, flexural, inter- laminar shear and impact properties.     

纳米改性对短纤维橡胶基密封复合材料性能的影响

以碳纤维、短玻纤为增强纤维,采用压延成张工艺制备纳米CaCO3填充改性橡胶基密封复合材料(NAFC材料),以材料的横向抗拉强度、压缩回弹率和应力松弛率为评价指标,试验研究了纳米填充改性对NAFC材料性能的影响.结果表明,纳米填充改性可有效增强纤维、橡胶基体间的界面结合度,使材料的强度、耐温性能以及密封综合性能得到明显的提高,同时,对改善材料加工工艺性也有较好的作用.     

Analytical study on elastic transition in short-fiber composites for plane strain case

An analytical approach for short-fiber-reinforced composites is developed for three-dimensional (3D) elastic stress field distribution subjected to an applied axial load. Two sets of exact displacement solutions for matrix and fiber, which are respectively called far-field and transient solutions, are derived based on the theory of elasticity. The superposition state of these solutions are then used to obtain the analytical expressions for the 3D stress field components over the entire composite system, including the fiber end region, through the adding imaginary fiber technique. The fiber/matrix 3D stress field components fully satisfy the equilibrium and compatibility conditions in the theory of elasticity. The stress field components also satisfy the overall boundary, interface continuity, and axial force equilibrium conditions. The analytical results obtained are then validated by finite element method modeling.     

偏轴剪切载荷下单向纤维增强金属基复合材料弹粘塑性响应

提出一种可以描述单向纤维复合材料多轴弹粘塑性行为的细力学模型。详细考究了纤维取向,纤维体积含量及应变率对单向上Ｂ／Ａｌ复合材料总体剪切弹粘塑性行为的影响。