Time-dependent interfacial sliding in fiber composites under longitudinal shear

Time-dependent deformation in fiber composites under longitudinal shear has been studied. The constituent phases of the composites are assumed to be e lastic, while the fiber/matrix interface is allowed to slide by a diffusion -controlled mechanism. This means that the composites macroscopically defor m anelastically. First, the case of an isolated fiber embedded in an infini te matrix is considered, the characteristic relaxation time and the fields of stress and strain at any instant are derived rigorously. The Mori-Tanaka mean-field method is then used to obtain the overall anelastic shear modul us of the composite. Some factors influencing the deformation behavior of t he composites are also discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.