Simple micromechanics models

Density of Composite
W f = Mass fraction of fibers, Wm = Mass fraction of matrix

Wm  W f  1
Vf = Volume fraction of fibers, Vm = Volume fraction of matrix

Vm  V f  1 If there are no voids

 c  Vm  m  V f  f Wm 
m
Vm
c
1
c  f
Wm Wf Wf 
 Vf
m f c
1
Vv = Volume fraction of voids
Vm  V f  Vv  1
c  c
Vv  t e

c t

 Wm W f 
Vv 1   ce   
  
 m f 

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 Simple micromechanics models

Elastic properties of fiber reinforced composites (FRC)

Deformation in longitudinal direction of continuous FRC

Fibers (f)

c c

Matrix (m)
l

Ac = Cross-sectional area of composite

Am = Cross-sectional area of matrix

Af = Cross-sectional area of fiber

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Deformation in longitudinal direction of continuous FRC
Force Fc  Fm  F f
 c Ac   m Am   f A f
Am Af
c  m  f
Ac Ac
Aml Af l
c  m  f
Ac l Ac l
Where,
 c  Vm m  V f  f
Vf = Volume fraction of fibers, Vm = Volume fraction of matrix
Vm  V f  1 If there are no voids

 c  (1  V f ) m  V f  f
c m f
 (1  V f ) V f
c c c 4
Deformation in longitudinal direction of continuous FRC
Iso-strain conditions c  m   f
c m f
So,
 (1  V f ) V f
c m f
Within elastic behavior

Hooke’s law E

Ec  (1  V f ) Em  V f E f
“Rule of mixtures” or Voigt estimate model

Upper bound theorem

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 Deformation in longitudinal direction of continuous FRC

6
M. Mukhopadhyay, Mechanics of Composite Materials and Structures, Universities Press,
Deformation in transverse direction of continuous FRC
c
Fibers (f)

Matrix (m)
l
c

tc = total thickness of composite

tm = thickness of matrix

tf = thickness of fiber

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Deformation in transverse direction of continuous FRC

Total change in thickness due to deformation

tc  t m  t f
t
since 
t
 c tc   mt m   f t f
 ctc Ac   mt m Ac   f t f Ac
But, Ac  Am  A f
 ctc Ac   mt m Am   f t f A f
t m Am t f Af
c  m  f
tc Ac tc Ac 8
Deformation in transverse direction of continuous FRC

 c  Vm m  V f  f
 c  (1  V f ) m  V f  f
Within elastic behavior

Hooke’s law E

c m f
 (1  V f ) Vf
Ec Em Ef
Under iso-stress conditions c  m   f
1 (1  V f ) V f
 
Ec Em Ef
Inverse rule of mixture or Reuss series model
Lower bound theorem 9
Simple micromechanics models

Ec = (1-Vf)Em+VfEf

1/Ec = (1-Vf)/Em+Vf/Ef

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Callister’s Mater. Sci. Engg.
 In-plane shear modulus of continuous FRC

 c  (1  V f ) m  V f  f
1 (1  V f ) V f
 
Gc Gm Gf
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M. Mukhopadhyay, Mechanics of Composite Materials and Structures, Universities Press,
Assumptions used in deriving elastic modulus of
composite

1. Homogeneous and isotropic

2. Linear elastic behavior
3. Perfect bonding at interface
4. Fibers are uniform, regularly spaced and
perfectly aligned
5. No voids
6. No residual stresses

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