Stress Transfer for Elastic Matrix

and Elastic Fiber

Assume that both the fiber and the matrix are elastic

LOAD LOAD

• no yielding at the interface between fiber and matrix

• strain in the matrix and in the composites is considered equal ε m = εc
• strain in the fiber is clearly less than that of the composite

z
θ
Matrix Displacement Around Fiber

DISPLACEMENT, u
w uR
uf
DISTANCE FROM CENTER, z

The matrix displacement w in the fiber direction is constant for any

distance z from the fiber over all possible angles, θ , hence w = f ( z)
Shear stress, τ, is also independent of θ , hence τ = f ( z)
The matrix displacement at the surface of the fiber is equal to the fiber
displacement
 Multi-fiber Model
2r
τ
τe
z
R τe
τ

dx

Summing the shear forces at the fiber surface and at a distance z form
the center of the fiber gives
2π zτ dx = 2π rτ e dx
which reduces to
r
τ = τe
z
Expressing the shear stress in terms of shear strain and shear
modulus of the matrix
du rτ e
=
dz zGm
 Solve for the Displacement
rτ e dz
∫
uR
∫
R
du =
uf Gm r z
evaluates to rτ e R
uR − u f = ln
Gm r
The ratio R/r depends upon the arrangement of the fibers which can be
expressed as the packing factor, Pf.
For square array of fibers
R 1 π 
ln = ln  
r 2  V f 
For hexagonal array of fibers

R 1  2π 
ln = ln  
r 2  3 V f 


For a general arrangement

R 1  Pf 
ln = ln  
r 2  V f 
 Calculating Stress Transfer
Using packing fraction and solving for

Em (uR − u f )
τe =
 Pf 
(1 +ν m )r ln  
Vf
 

Taking the center of the fiber as the origin the stress transferred to the fiber can be
written as

dσ f 2τ e
=−
dx r
Combining above equations

dσ f 2 Em (uR − u f )
=−
dx P 
(1 +ν m ) r 2 ln  f 
 Vf
 
 Calculating Stress Transfer (Cont)

Differentiating

d 2σ f n2
= 2 (σ f − E f ε1 )
dx 2 r

2 Em
n2 =
where P 
E f (1 + ν m ) ln  f 
 Vf
 
Fiber stress: Shear stress:

  nx   1  nx 
 cosh   nE f ε1 sinh  
σ f = E f ε1 1 −  r  2  r 
 τe =
 n l 
cosh  
 cosh    nl
  2r    2r 
Shear Stress and Fiber Stress
Distribution Along Fiber

SHEAR STRESS

l
2
l
FIBER STRESS

DISTANCE ALONG FIBER

Comparison of Fiber and Shear Stress
Profiles for Different Matrix Behavior
RIGID PERFECTLY ELASTIC-PLASTIC
PLASTIC MATRIX ELASTIC MATRIX MATRIX

ELASTIC FIBER ELASTIC FIBER ELASTIC FIBER

STRESS
STRESS
STRESS

FIBER
MATRIX

STRAIN STRAIN STRAIN

SHEAR STRESS
FIBER STRESS
FIBER STRESS

FIBER STRESS

DISTANCE ALONG FIBER DISTANCE ALONG FIBER FIBER STRESS DISTANCE ALONG FIBER