A mechanism based modeling approach to failure in fiber reinforced composites

The increasing use of fiber reinforced polymer composites (FRPC) in civil and military applications has made it imperative that the behavior of FRPC be understood under a variety of loading conditions. It is known that the compressive load carrying capacity of FRPC is low compared to its tensile load carrying capacity. Thus, the compressive behavior of FRPC has been a limiting factor in the design of FRPC structures. In the current work, the compressive behavior of FRPC has been studied with an aim to identify and understand the important parameters affecting the compressive strength and failure mechanisms in FRPC, particularly under combined stress states. The purpose is to establish compressive strength degradation (or enhancement) in the presence of combined stress states. Results from experiments have led to the development of a mechanism based failure model, based on the principles of fracture mechanics for the splitting failure of FRPC. A mechanics model has been developed for both pure compression and combined compression-torsion loading. The predictions of the model were found to compare favorably with experimental data obtained from glass and carbon FRPC under pure compression and combined compression-torsion loading. A 3D finite element simulation of a representative cylindrical section of the composite was performed. The results indicated the importance of fiber diameter on the predicted compressive response of the composite. It also indicated the possibilities of fiber breakage under axial loading as a cause for the initiation of kinking in case of small diameter fiber reinforced composites. Pure compression tests were also conducted on hybrid (glass/carbon) composites under static and dynamic loading conditions. The static compressive strength of hybrid composites shows a non-monotonic behavior with respect to the hybrid ratio. The compressive strength first decreases and then increases as we approach either pure carbon or pure glass composites. The hybrid composites tested show an increase in strength with strain rate at all hybrid ratios. Based on the above experiments/analysis a non-dimensional number has been derived to a priori identify the composite failure mechanism, and thus aid the accurate prediction of composite compressive strength.