FINITE-ELEMENT SIMULATION OF THE MICROMECHANICS OF INTERLAYERED POLYMER FIBER COMPOSITES - A STUDY OF THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE REINFORCING PHASES

Finite element analysis has been applied to study the mechanical behav iour of composites with ductile thermoplastic and rubbery interlayers between fibres and matrix. The stress distribution in the transverse d irection and the interactions between fibres was investigated with par ticular emphasis on the effect of varying the modulus and thickness of the interlayers. The results of the analysis show that the use of int erlayers is more beneficial at higher fibre volume fractions in enhanc ing the energy absorbing capabilities of a polymer/fibre composite. In particular, ductile interlayers are clearly shown to have a less detr imental effect than rubbery interlayers on the modulus of coated fibre composites.