M. Werwer et al., Local strain fields and global plastic response of continuous fiber reinforced metal-matrix composites under transverse loading, COMP MAT SC, 12(2), 1998, pp. 124-136
The influence of fiber arrangement on the local plastic strain fields and t
he resulting mechanical response of continuous fiber reinforced metal-matri
x composites under transverse loading has been studied systematically by me
ans of finite element analyses. Random, hexagonal and square fiber arrangem
ents were investigated. The composite material examined consisted of isotro
pic linear-elastic fibers which are perfectly bonded with an isotropic elas
tic-plastic matrix with power-law hardening behavior. The random arrangemen
ts were analyzed with representative material elements containing approxima
tely 50 fibers. The internal strain fields are highly influenced by the fib
er arrangements. Three different strengthening mechanisms are proposed for
composites with perfectly plastic matrix material: the orientation, bowing-
out and bending mechanisms. Simple analytical estimates are given for the o
rientation and the bending mechanisms. The influence of matrix work-hardeni
ng is explained by means of an effective deformable matrix volume fraction.
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