A SIMPLE TRANSVERSE DAMAGE MODEL FOR UNIDIRECTIONAL COMPOSITES

A simple transverse damage model for unidirectional composites was est ablished, in the case when the composite specimen is loaded transverse ly. The model ignoring thermal stress, based on Griffith's virtual wor k argument and usual damage theories, gives a crack propagation criter ion at the fiber/matrix interface. By extrapolation to the case of nul l crack length, the transverse tensile strength was found to depend di rectly on the crack opening angle at the interface and then on the int erface surface energy. In situ transverse tensile tests were carried o ut on a unidirectional E-glass fibers/epoxy composite. The combination of the developed model with the experimental results gave the interfa ce surface energy. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd