Development of a micro-indentation model simulating different mechanical responses of the fibre/matrix interface

An analytical shear-lag model has been developed for quantifying the interf acial shear strength of glass-reinforced composites from micro-indentation experiments. The model takes into account the local fibre environment, toge ther with the occurrence of debonding and fibre sliding. In order to simula te the experimental indentation curves, various interfacial laws have been implemented. In a first approach, it was assumed that the shear stress in t he debonded part of the interface was constant and proportional to the debo nding stress. A more refined generalised interface law relating the shear s tress to the fibre displacement was subsequently introduced to describe a p rogressive transition from an adhesive to a sliding state. The model has be en successfully applied to the analysis of experimental reduced indentation curves giving the displacement of the fibre surface as a function of the a pplied load. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.