MULTIPLE FIBER TECHNIQUE FOR THE SINGLE-FIBER FRAGMENTATION TEST

The single fiber fragmentation test has been modified by embedding mul tiple fibers into matrix resin. During testing, we examined the interf acial shear strengths between the fibers and the matrix. In addition, the time-dependent nature of the fragmentation process was considered. In the fragmentation test, we examined the failure process of two fib ers placed far from each other, and we found that the failure profile of the two fibers were similar to the failure profiles from tests done on single fibers. When we examined three fibers, we found that the me asured interfacial shear strength values were much greater than the sh ear strength values from either the single or two fiber tests. However , when we used three fibers, we found it difficult to control the inte rfiber spacing. Consequently, whenever the interfiber spacing was too small, breaks in one fiber caused breaks in the adjacent fiber. In con clusion, using multiple fibers in a fragmentation test has many merits , such as saving time in testing, ease of comparing the effects of fib er surface treatment, and testing different fibers in the same matrix exposed to the same processing conditions. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.