Fe micro-models to study contact states, stresses and failure mechanisms in a polymer composite subjected to a sliding steel asperity

FE micro-models have been developed in order to determine contact, stress a nd strain conditions produced by a steel asperity sliding on the surface of a fibre-reinforced polymer composite. Three cases were studied, i.e. a nor mal, a parallel and an anti-parallel fibre orientation relative to the slid ing direction. In order to get more realistic simulation results about the failure conditions in the composite structure, FE contact macro/micro-model s were used, contrary to the so far widely applied anisotropic analytical o r numerical macro-models. To model a "micro-environment" as part of a "macr o-environment", the displacement coupling technique was introduced. On the basis of the stress results, conclusions were drawn on the possible wear me chanisms of the fibre -reinforced polymer composites. For each fibre orient ation, surface failure of the matrix material occurs due to high shear stre sses. The other characteristic source of failure is fibre/matrix debonding, eventually followed by fibre cracking events. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B. V. All rights reserved.