CH3
MICROMECHANICS
Assist.Prof.Dr. Ahmet Erklig
Ultimate Strengths of a Unidirectional Lamina
Longitudinal Tensile Strength
Assumptions (Mechanics of Materials Approach)
 Fiber and matrix are isotropic, homogeneous,
and linearly elastic until failure.
 The failure strain for the matrix is higher than for
the fiber.
 When the fibers fails at the strain of εf)ult, the whole
composite fails
FIGURE 3.24
Stress–strain curve for a unidirectional composite under uniaxial tensile load
along fibers.
The ultimate failure strain of the fiber is
The ultimate failure strain of the matrix is
The composite tensile strength is
Critical Fiber Volume Fraction
It is also possible that, by adding fibers to the matrix, the
composite will have lower ultimate tensile strength than the
matrix. In that case, the fiber volume fraction for which this is
possible is called the critical fiber volume fraction, (Vf ) critical ,
and is
Solution
Experimental Evaluation
FIGURE 3.25
Tensile coupon mounted in the test frame for
finding the tensile strengths of a unidirectional
lamina.
FIGURE 3.26
Geometry of a longitudinal tensile strength
specimen.
The general test method recommended for tensile strength is the
ASTM test method for tensile properties of fiber–resin
composites (D3039) (Figure 3.25). A tensile test geometry
(Figure 3.26) to find the longitudinal tensile strength consists of
six to eight 0° plies that are 12.5 mm (1/2 in.) wide and 229 mm
(10 in.) long. The specimen is mounted with strain gages in the
longitudinal and transverse directions. Tensile stresses are
applied on the specimen at a rate of about 0.5 to 1 mm/min (0.02
to 0.04 in./min). A total of 40 to 50 data points for stress and
strain is taken until a specimen fails.
FIGURE 3.27
Stress–strain curve for a [0]8 laminate under a longitudinal tensile load.
Failure Under Longitudinal Tensile
Load
1. Brittle fracture of fibers
2. Brittle fracture of fibers with pullout
3. Fiber pullout with fiber–matrix debonding
Modes of Failure
The mode of failure depends on the fiber–matrix bond strength
and fiber volume fraction.
• Low fiber volume fractions (< 40%), mode (1) failure.
• Intermediate fiber volume fractions (40-65%), model (2)
failure.
• High fiber volume fractions (> 65%), model (3) failure.
Longitudinal Compressive Strength
 Fracture of matrix and/or fiber–matrix bond due to
tensile strains in the matrix and/or bond
 Microbuckling of fibers in shear or extensional
mode
 Shear failure of fibers
Modes of Failures under Comp.
Matrix Failure Mode
Using Maximum Strain Failure Theory,
• If the transverse strain exceeds the ultimate transverse
tensile strain, the lamina is considered to have failed in the
transverse direction.
Ultimate Transverse Strain
Shear/extensional fiber microbuckling
failure mode
Local buckling models for calculating longitudinal compressive
strengths have been developed. Because these results are based
on advanced topics, only the final expressions are given:
Shear stress failure of fibers mode
 A unidirectional composite may fail due to direct shear failure
of fibers.

Factors to Affect the Predicted Values
 Irregular spacing of fibers causing premature failure
in matrix-rich areas
 Less than perfect bonding between the fiber and the
matrix
 Poor alignment of fibers
 Not accounting for Poisson’s ratio mismatch between
the fiber and the matrix
 Not accounting for the transversely isotropic nature
of fibers such as aramids and graphite
Experimental Evaluation
The compressive strength of a lamina has been found by several
different methods. A highly recommended method is the IITRI (Illinois
Institute of Technology Research Institute), compression test. Figure 3.30
shows the (ASTM D3410 Celanese) IITRI fixture mounted in a test frame.
 A specimen (Figure 3.31) consists generally of 16 to 20 plies of 0°
lamina
 that are 6.4 mm (1/4 in.) wide and 127 mm (5 in.) long.
 Strain gages are mounted in the longitudinal direction on both faces of
the specimen to check for parallelism of the edges and ends.
 The specimen is compressed at a rate of 0.5 to 1 mm/min (0.02 to
0.04 in./min).
 A total of 40 to 50 data points for stress and strain are taken until
the specimen fails.
Specimen Dimensions
Stress-strain curve
Transverse Tensile Strength
Assumptions (A mechanics of materials approach)
 A perfect fiber–matrix bond
 Uniform spacing of fibers
 The fiber and matrix follow Hooke’s law
 There are no residual stresses
Representative Volume Element (RVE)
Transverse Tensile Strength
Transverse Tensile Strength
Transverse Compressive Strength
Experimental Evaluation
The procedure for finding the transverse compressive
strength is the same as that for finding the
longitudinal compressive strength. The only
difference is in the specimen dimensions. The width
of the specimen is 12.7 mm (1/2 in.) and 30 to
40 plies are used in the test.
In-Plane Shear Strength
Using a mechanics of materials approach
In-Plane Shear Strength
In-Plane Shear Strength
Longitudinal Thermal Expansion
Coefficient
Can be derived using the mechanics of materials
approach.
Transverse Thermal Expansion
Coefficient
Due to temperature change, ΔT, assume that the compatibility
condition that the strain in the fiber and matrix is equal in
direction 1
Coefficients of Moisture Expansion
When a body absorbs water, as is the case for
resins in polymeric matrix composites, it expands.
The change in dimensions of the body are measured
by the coefficient of moisture expansion defined as
the change in the linear dimension of a body per unit
length per unit change in weight of moisture content
per unit weight of the body.
Longitudinal Coefficients of Moisture
Expansion
Transverse Coefficients of Moisture
Expansion

composite_l6_micromechanics2_assist_prof_dr-Ahmet_Erklig

  • 1.
  • 2.
    Ultimate Strengths ofa Unidirectional Lamina
  • 3.
    Longitudinal Tensile Strength Assumptions(Mechanics of Materials Approach)  Fiber and matrix are isotropic, homogeneous, and linearly elastic until failure.  The failure strain for the matrix is higher than for the fiber.  When the fibers fails at the strain of εf)ult, the whole composite fails
  • 4.
    FIGURE 3.24 Stress–strain curvefor a unidirectional composite under uniaxial tensile load along fibers.
  • 5.
    The ultimate failurestrain of the fiber is The ultimate failure strain of the matrix is The composite tensile strength is
  • 6.
    Critical Fiber VolumeFraction It is also possible that, by adding fibers to the matrix, the composite will have lower ultimate tensile strength than the matrix. In that case, the fiber volume fraction for which this is possible is called the critical fiber volume fraction, (Vf ) critical , and is
  • 8.
  • 9.
    Experimental Evaluation FIGURE 3.25 Tensilecoupon mounted in the test frame for finding the tensile strengths of a unidirectional lamina. FIGURE 3.26 Geometry of a longitudinal tensile strength specimen.
  • 10.
    The general testmethod recommended for tensile strength is the ASTM test method for tensile properties of fiber–resin composites (D3039) (Figure 3.25). A tensile test geometry (Figure 3.26) to find the longitudinal tensile strength consists of six to eight 0° plies that are 12.5 mm (1/2 in.) wide and 229 mm (10 in.) long. The specimen is mounted with strain gages in the longitudinal and transverse directions. Tensile stresses are applied on the specimen at a rate of about 0.5 to 1 mm/min (0.02 to 0.04 in./min). A total of 40 to 50 data points for stress and strain is taken until a specimen fails.
  • 11.
    FIGURE 3.27 Stress–strain curvefor a [0]8 laminate under a longitudinal tensile load.
  • 12.
    Failure Under LongitudinalTensile Load 1. Brittle fracture of fibers 2. Brittle fracture of fibers with pullout 3. Fiber pullout with fiber–matrix debonding
  • 13.
  • 14.
    The mode offailure depends on the fiber–matrix bond strength and fiber volume fraction. • Low fiber volume fractions (< 40%), mode (1) failure. • Intermediate fiber volume fractions (40-65%), model (2) failure. • High fiber volume fractions (> 65%), model (3) failure.
  • 15.
    Longitudinal Compressive Strength Fracture of matrix and/or fiber–matrix bond due to tensile strains in the matrix and/or bond  Microbuckling of fibers in shear or extensional mode  Shear failure of fibers
  • 16.
    Modes of Failuresunder Comp.
  • 17.
    Matrix Failure Mode UsingMaximum Strain Failure Theory, • If the transverse strain exceeds the ultimate transverse tensile strain, the lamina is considered to have failed in the transverse direction.
  • 18.
  • 19.
    Shear/extensional fiber microbuckling failuremode Local buckling models for calculating longitudinal compressive strengths have been developed. Because these results are based on advanced topics, only the final expressions are given:
  • 20.
    Shear stress failureof fibers mode  A unidirectional composite may fail due to direct shear failure of fibers. 
  • 22.
    Factors to Affectthe Predicted Values  Irregular spacing of fibers causing premature failure in matrix-rich areas  Less than perfect bonding between the fiber and the matrix  Poor alignment of fibers  Not accounting for Poisson’s ratio mismatch between the fiber and the matrix  Not accounting for the transversely isotropic nature of fibers such as aramids and graphite
  • 23.
    Experimental Evaluation The compressivestrength of a lamina has been found by several different methods. A highly recommended method is the IITRI (Illinois Institute of Technology Research Institute), compression test. Figure 3.30 shows the (ASTM D3410 Celanese) IITRI fixture mounted in a test frame.  A specimen (Figure 3.31) consists generally of 16 to 20 plies of 0° lamina  that are 6.4 mm (1/4 in.) wide and 127 mm (5 in.) long.  Strain gages are mounted in the longitudinal direction on both faces of the specimen to check for parallelism of the edges and ends.  The specimen is compressed at a rate of 0.5 to 1 mm/min (0.02 to 0.04 in./min).  A total of 40 to 50 data points for stress and strain are taken until the specimen fails.
  • 24.
  • 25.
  • 26.
    Transverse Tensile Strength Assumptions(A mechanics of materials approach)  A perfect fiber–matrix bond  Uniform spacing of fibers  The fiber and matrix follow Hooke’s law  There are no residual stresses
  • 27.
  • 28.
  • 29.
  • 30.
  • 31.
    Experimental Evaluation The procedurefor finding the transverse compressive strength is the same as that for finding the longitudinal compressive strength. The only difference is in the specimen dimensions. The width of the specimen is 12.7 mm (1/2 in.) and 30 to 40 plies are used in the test.
  • 32.
    In-Plane Shear Strength Usinga mechanics of materials approach
  • 33.
  • 34.
  • 35.
    Longitudinal Thermal Expansion Coefficient Canbe derived using the mechanics of materials approach.
  • 36.
    Transverse Thermal Expansion Coefficient Dueto temperature change, ΔT, assume that the compatibility condition that the strain in the fiber and matrix is equal in direction 1
  • 37.
    Coefficients of MoistureExpansion When a body absorbs water, as is the case for resins in polymeric matrix composites, it expands. The change in dimensions of the body are measured by the coefficient of moisture expansion defined as the change in the linear dimension of a body per unit length per unit change in weight of moisture content per unit weight of the body.
  • 38.
    Longitudinal Coefficients ofMoisture Expansion
  • 39.
    Transverse Coefficients ofMoisture Expansion