MODELING THE ELASTIC PROPERTIES OF FIBER-REINFORCED COMPOSITES .2. THEORETICAL PREDICTIONS

This paper evaluates different models for predicting the elastic prope rties of fibre reinforced composites. The modelling is broken into two discrete components. First, the properties of the individual composit e unit, envisaged as a fibre embedded in a circular sheath of matrix, are determined. Four models for determining the elastic properties of the unit are evaluated. The second stage in the modelling is to predic t the effects of a range of orientations of the simple composite unit. This is achieved by applying the aggregate model proposed by Ward. Th e orientation averages needed for the second stage were obtained by im age analysis, and their measurement was detailed in a previous paper. Finally the predicted elastic constants were compared with experimenta l values determined using an ultrasonic immersion technique.