Damage analysis of fiber composites Part I: Statistical analysis on fiber scale

This paper is the first in a series dealing with computational analysis of damage and fracture in fiber composite systems. In the paper, a part of a c omposite plate, in the form of a 0.5 x 2.0 mm section containing 16 000 uni directional fibers, is analyzed. The analysis concentrates on stochastic co nstitutive properties and statistics of the maximal local fiber-matrix inte rface stresses. The equations of linear elasticity are assumed, and residiu al stresses and stresses due to mechanical loads are analyzed and character ized. In forthcoming papers, results from the present paper will form the b asis for analysis of damage initiation and growth. (C) 1999 Elsevier Scienc e S.A. All rights reserved.