A NEW MODEL FOR THE MULTIPHASE FIBER-MATRIX COMPOSITE-MATERIALS

A new model for a multiphase fiber-matrix composite material is propos ed and the corresponding constitutive equations are derived. The matri x in the composite material is considered to be an isotropic continuou s medium, and the reinforcing fibers are modeled by equivalent fibers using statistical averaging. The equivalent fibers are divided into th ose homogeneously distributed and oriented in the matrix and those hav ing a preferred orientation. Based on the assumption of homogeneous de formation, a mese-constitutive equation for the multiphase fiber-matri x composite material is derived. The constitutive equation can be appl ied to the cases of isotropic, transversely isotropic or generally ani sotropic properties of composite materials. As examples, several fiber -matrix composite material structures with isotropic and transversely isotropic characteristics are constructed, and the corresponding const itutive equations are obtained and analyzed. (C) 1998 Published by Els evier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.