AN ENERGY CRITERION FOR FIBER BREAKAGE IN STRESSED MATRIX

Eshelby's method is used in this paper to evaluate approximately the e nergy released when a fiber, which is embedded in a stressed infinite matrix, is ''cut'' by the development of cracks in the matrix. The rel eased energy can be considered as a measure of the toughness of a fibe r against matrix cracks. As numerical examples, the energies released by breaking an embedded isotropic glass fiber and an embedded transver sely isotropic carbon fiber are evaluated and the effects of the fiber geometry, material properties, as well as the stress field on the ene rgies released are demonstrated.