Stress transfer model for single fibre and platelet composites

A model for elastic stress transfer across the interface in composites has been developed in particular to overcome the known problem of the matrix ef fective radius. Stresses were determined using a two dimensional method by introducing a novel hypothesis of structural response of the matrix. This i s in contrast to previous approaches, which mainly consider that the axial derivative of axial stress does not depend upon the radius. This leads to a new form of the stress transfer equation, free of an adjustable parameter. This analysis was applied to linear elastic single fibre and single platel et composites. The comparison of the two reinforcements allowed the identif ication of a structural parameter for which the two geometries are shown to be equivalent. The model was validated using literature results obtained b y Raman spectroscopy means or photo-elastic methods. The agreement between measured data and the model showed the relevance of the matrix structural r esponse approach to stress transfer.