Stress concentrations and transverse modes of failure in composites with a soft fibre-matrix interlayer

G. Marom*, R. G.C. Arridge

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

An account is given of experimental work on the effect of surface coatings on fibres in composites under transverse loading. Models were used consisting of up to three cylindrical steel inclusions in resin strips bonded either directly to the strips or by means of interlayers of thickness 6.65% of the overall inclusions radius. Two types of interlayer were used, both softer than the resin matrix. Measurements were made of the breaking stress of the strip models and of controls with and without holes of the same diameter as that of the inclusions. Specimens with directly bonded inclusions failed at stresses of about 25% of the failure of the control resin while those with holes failed at stresses of about 65% of the control value. Specimens with interlayers failed at higher values still, the improvement being letter for an epoxy layer of shear modulus 0.2 of that of the control than for a silicone rubber interlayer. Scanning electron micrographs of the fracture surfaces revealed significant differences in the modes of fracture as between the vareous samples. Photoelastic stress analysis and calculated stress values are compared and used with the SEM data to analyse the fracture behaviour.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)23-32
Number of pages10
JournalMaterials Science and Engineering
Volume23
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1976
Externally publishedYes

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