The effect of glass bead content and residual stresses on failure init
iation in isotactic polypropylene composites has been investigated by
finite element analysis for the cases of interfacial debonding, plasti
c yielding, and cavitation. Residual thermal stresses are demonstrated
to have a large effect on global failure initiation stress. Yielding
and cavitation occur at higher global stresses than debonding. Modelin
g results, as well as previous experimental data, support debonding as
the initial failure mechanism.