Micromechanical analysis of stochastic fiber/matrix interface strength effect on transverse tensile property of fiber reinforced composites

Abstract

The effect of Weibull distribution-based stochastic fiber/matrix interface strength on the transverse tensile strength and failure process of long fiber reinforced composites was numerically investigated in represent volume elements. The transverse tensile strength and failure strain of the stochastic interface strength models are much lower than the identical interface strength cases, indicating that transverse tensile strength calculated from the identical interface strength model will lead to an overestimation. In the stochastic interface strength model, failure path goes along interfaces of lower strength but not always the lowest strength, and variation of fiber location distribution will lead to a different failure process. Influence of the two Weibull parameters on the transverse tensile strength was also investigated. The transverse tensile strength improves with the increase of Weibull scale parameter and shape parameter. A small value of shape parameter will lead to a scattered interface strength distribution and much lower transverse tensile strength.