Numerical Prediction Of Property Of Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite

Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) is a type of composite, which is widely used in flight, car manufacturing and architecture for its light weight, high modules and covenant processing. Usually, Tandon-Weng model is used to predict the mechanical properties of the composite in which fibers are oriented in a single direction. Generally, Tandon-Weng model is relatively accurate and its calculation is simpler compared with other models.However, Tandon-Weng model cannot be proved by experiments because samples produced by injection, in which fibers are single-direction oriented, cannot exist. The practicability of this model reduced therefore. The object of this thesis is the single direction oriented FRP, and the verification of the Tandon-Weng model is carried out using the Finite Element Method at the 2D condition.First of all, the expression of the Eshelby tensor at 2D condition is deduced and the Tandon-Weng model is simplified for 2D problems, according to the deduction with 3D problems. Then, a 2D plane model is created for the composite, in which the distribution of fibers is regular and uniform, that is meshed using 2-nodes rectangular element. A Finite Element Method program is coded and compiled. At last, when the mechanical properties of the composite are calculated using the two methods with different fiber volume percentages, fiber length-radius-ratios and fiber distribution states, the results are compared as well.The study of this thesis proved that, the Tandon-Weng model has a defect. It is not precise for every problem in prediction of single direction oriented FRP composite. When fibers in the composite are regularly distributed, the Tandon-Weng model cannot indicate the effect of fibers'distribution state on the mechanical properties of the composite. More studies should be carried out to revise the Tandon-Weng model and prove its correctness at the condition that fibers are randomly distributed.