Effect of the Yield Criterion of Matrix on the Brittle Fracture of Fibres in Uniaxial Tension of Composites

Sergei Alexandrov,Fedor Grechnikov,Yaroslav Erisov

doi:10.1155/2016/3746161

Abstract

This paper examines the effect of the yield criterion of the matrix on brittle fracture of the fibre in continuous fibre reinforced metal matrix composites subjected to tension in the direction parallel to the fibres. It is assumed that the matrix obeys quite a general isotropic yield criterion. An approximate approach to predicting the tensile load at which the fibre breaks previously proposed in the literature is adopted. It is shown that this tensile load is practically independent of the yield criterion of the matrix. This is a great advantage for engineering applications since an analytic solution is available in the case of Tresca yield criterion. This solution can be used for a wide range of matrix materials with no loss of the accuracy of the prediction of the tensile load at which the fibre breaks.

Highlights

There are many applications in which continuous and short fibre reinforced metal matrix composites are required
In the present paper the brittle fracture of fibres in continuous fibre reinforced metal matrix composites subjected to uniaxial tension is predicted using the approach proposed in [1]
Brittle fracture of fibres in continuous fibre reinforced composites subjected to tensile loading in the direction parallel to the fibres has been predicted by means of the theory developed in [1]

Summary

Introduction

There are many applications in which continuous and short fibre reinforced metal matrix composites are required. Computational methodologies for modeling fracture in continuous fibre reinforced metal matrix composites and in laminated composites at the micromechanical level have been proposed in [7,8,9,10]. It has been shown in [11] that the interfacial conditions strongly affect tensile fracture characteristics of a boron-fibre-reinforced aluminum composite. In the present paper the brittle fracture of fibres in continuous fibre reinforced metal matrix composites subjected to uniaxial tension is predicted using the approach proposed in [1]. A description of the double shearing model can be found in [22]

General Approach

Rigid Plastic Solution in the Matrix

Effect of the Yield Criterion of the Matrix on Brittle Fracture of the Fibre

Conclusions