Jeffery's orbit leading to the foundation of flow-induced orientation in modern fiber composite materials

Abstract

• Understanding the microstructure of flow-induced orientation distribution within fiber-reinforced thermoplastics composites is crucial for the current automotive and aerospace industries. • In the 100th anniversary of G.B. Jeffery's contribution, one therefore emphasizes that the Jeffery equation is important for basic flows to describe the flow-induced fiber orientation. • During a complex flow, it is significant to show that the shell-core microstructure of fiber orientation is related to characteristic shear rate and extension rate profiles. • Under the 3D-FRT injection molding simulation and the objective fiber orientation model, the predicted microstructure almost matches the related experimental data. On pursuing the seminal work of Jeffery's orbit (1922), the pioneering rheologists were inspired to originate modern suspension rheology in a fiber-filled viscous fluid. Understanding the flow-induced orientation distribution within fiber-reinforced thermoplastics (FRT) composites is crucial for the current automotive and aerospace industries. In the 100th anniversary of G.B. Jeffery's contribution, one therefore emphasizes the overview of advanced fiber orientation models studied on the suspension rheology. Herein the Jeffery equation is used in basic flows to describe the flow-induced fiber orientation. During a complex flow, it is significant to show that the shell-core microstructure of fiber orientation is related to characteristic shear rate and extension rate profiles. Under the 3D-FRT injection molding simulation and the objective fiber orientation model, the predicted microstructure almost matches the related experimental data. Additionally, numerous fiber vectors are visualized to exhibit the flow-induced orientation distribution.