E. Ghassemieh et V. Nassehi, Prediction of failure and fracture mechanisms of polymeric composites using finite element analysis. Part 2: Fiber reinforced composites, POLYM COMP, 22(4), 2001, pp. 542-554
A robust finite element scheme for the micro-mechanical modeling of the beh
avior of fiber reinforced polymeric composites under external loads is deve
loped. The developed model is used to simulate stress distribution througho
ut the composite domain and to identify the locations where maximum stress
concentrations occur. This information is used as a guide to predict domina
nt failure and crack growth mechanisms in fiber reinforced composites. The
differences between continuous fibers, which are susceptible to unidirectio
nal transverse fracture, and short fibers have been demonstrated. To assess
the validity and range of applicability of the developed scheme, numerical
results obtained by the model are compared with the available experimental
data and also with the values found using other methods reported in the li
terature. These comparisons show that the present finite element scheme can
generate meaningful results in the analysis of fiber reinforced composites
.