THE EFFECTIVE PROPERTIES OF COMPOSITES WITH FIBER-END CRACKS

The paper describes use of self-consistent finite element method (SCFE M) for predicting effective properties of fiber composite with partial ly debonded interface. The effective longitudinal Young's modulus and shear modulus for unidirectional fiber reinforced composites with fibe r-end cracks are calculated. Numerical results show that the effective properties are considerably influenced by the fiber-end cracks. The e ffects of microstructural parameters, such as fiber volume fraction, m odulus ratio of the constituents and fiber aspect, on the effective pr operties of the composites were discussed.