The role of interfacial debonding in increasing the strength and reliability of unidirectional fibrous composites

Abstract

A Monte-Carlo simulation technique based on a finite-element method has been developed in order to clarify the effect of interfacial shear strength on the tensile strength and reliability of fibrous composites. In the simulation a boron/epoxy monolayer composite was modelled, and five hundred simulations were carried out for various interfacial shear strengths. The interfacial shear strength value which raised the average strength of the composite corresponded approximately to the value which reduced the coefficient of variation. This implies the existence of an optimum value of interfacial shear strength which can increase the strength and reliability. The simulated strength and reliability were closely related to the degree and type of damage around a fiber break. That is to say, large-scale debonding caused by a weak interfacial bond and matrix cracking caused by a strong bond reduced the number of fiber breaks accumulated up to the maximum stress, and decreased the strength and reliability. On the other hand, small-scale debonding promoted comparatively the cumulative effect of fiber breaks and played a key role in increasing the composite strength and reliability.