Two analogous methods for estimating the compressive strength of fibrous composites

Abstract

In this paper, an analogy is made between the solution of micro-buckling of fibrous composites using a three-dimensional model and that of biaxial bending of reinforced concrete short columns. Two approaches are used; the first one uses a reciprocal formula and the second one uses a bilinear approximation to the non-dimensional stresses interaction equation, to estimate the compressive stress in a fibrous composite. The initial misalignment angles of composite fibers, which are the main parameters in the determination of the compressive strength of fibrous composites, are analogous to load eccentricities in concrete columns. The initial misalignment angles in both directions perpendicular to the axis of the fibers are defined by sinusoidal curves. The compressive strength of different fibrous composites, which also depends on the nonlinear shear stress–strain relationship of the matrix material, is estimated using the present approaches. The results obtained in this study agree well with experimental and analytical results available in the literature.