Mechanical behaviour of a short-fibre composite

Abstract

A theoretical investigation of the stress-field in a short-fibre composite is performed. The concept of a typical region is introduced and the boundary conditions for such a region, when the composite is imposed to a simple macroscopic loading, are derived. Using these boundary conditions, the stresses are calculated by integrating Navier's equations over the same region. Knowing this stress-field, macroscopic properties are calculated and conclusions are drawn about the mechanical behaviour of the composite, like critical fibre length and fracture toughness, when the geometry and mechanical properties of the constituents are varied.