Numerical study on rupture process of fiber-reinforced composites

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Mechanical Engineering
• Composite Materials

Background:

• Investigating the mechanical properties of fiber composites is essential for their application in various engineering fields.
• Understanding the behavior of these materials under uniaxial tensile stress is critical for predicting performance and ensuring safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the strength characteristics of fiber composites subjected to uniaxial tensile stress.
• To explore the relationship between fiber quantity, fiber width, and the resulting tensile strength.

Main Methods:

• Development of a finite element model (FEM) for tensile failure analysis based on fracture mechanics.
• Simulation of stress concentration, release, and transfer evolution.
• Examination of crack propagation under varying fiber configurations (equal/unequal width and quantity).

Main Results:

• Tensile strength of composites shows a positive correlation with fiber quantity when individual fiber widths are uniform.
• The study observed specific stress evolution patterns and crack propagation behaviors.

Conclusions:

• Increasing fiber quantity enhances composite tensile strength when individual fiber widths are equal.
• Maintaining an equal total fiber width also leads to increased tensile strength with higher fiber quantity, indicating a significant design parameter.