QUANTIFICATION OF RANDOM FIBER ARRANGEMENTS USING A RADIAL-DISTRIBUTION FUNCTION-APPROACH

Radial distribution functions (RDFs) for random, hard-core model patte rns and actual composite material microstructures have been determined . The environs of the typical fiber in the random pattern have a highe r fiber areal density nearer to the fiber than farther away. These dif ferences increase with volume fraction. The RDFs for random patterns s how good agreement with theory. The RDFs for Nicalon/zirconia titanate composites appear similar to the random case, but also display an ang ular dependence on near-neighbor distribution. The proximity of near-n eighbors has important ramifications for modeling the micromechanics o f tow-based fiber composite mateials.