Measurements of fiber orientation and elastic-modulus analysis in short-fiber-reinforced composites

This paper presents an image analysis method for measuring fiber orientatio ns in short-fiber-reinforced composites and a mathematical procedure for pr edicting the elastic modulus of the composites according to the measured fi ber-orientation distribution (FOD). The method determines the FOD from the ratio of fiber matrix perimeter length between two orthogonal planar cross- sections of polished composite samples. The analysis algorithm of the metho d is much simpler than previously reported methods and is efficiently appli ed to composites with axially symmetric FOD. To verify the theory, FOD meas urement and tensile testing were performed on Al2O3/Al composites fabricate d by squeeze casting. The elastic modulus values determined by the tests we re compared with the theoretical value, and the agreement was satisfactory. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.