TY - JOUR

T1 - Discrete element modelling of unidirectional fibre-reinforced polymers under transverse tension

AU - Ismail, Yaser

AU - Sheng, Yong

AU - Yang, Dongmin

AU - Ye, Jianqiao

PY - 2015/5

Y1 - 2015/5

N2 - The mechanical behaviour of unidirectional fibre-reinforced polymer composites subjected to transverse tension was studied using a two dimensional discrete element method. The Representative Volume Element (RVE) of the composite was idealised as a polymer matrix reinforced with randomly distributed parallel fibres. The matrix and fibres were constructed using disc particles bonded together using parallel bonds, while the fibre/matrix interfaces were represented by a displacement-softening model. The prevailing damage mechanisms observed from the model were interfacial debonding and matrix plastic deformation. Numerical simulations have shown that the magnitude of stress is significantly higher at the interfaces, especially in the areas with high fibre densities. Interface fracture energy, stiffness and strength all played important roles in the overall mechanical performance of the composite. It was also observed that tension cracks normally began with interfacial debonding. The merge of the interfacial and matrix micro-cracks resulted in the final catastrophic fracture.

AB - The mechanical behaviour of unidirectional fibre-reinforced polymer composites subjected to transverse tension was studied using a two dimensional discrete element method. The Representative Volume Element (RVE) of the composite was idealised as a polymer matrix reinforced with randomly distributed parallel fibres. The matrix and fibres were constructed using disc particles bonded together using parallel bonds, while the fibre/matrix interfaces were represented by a displacement-softening model. The prevailing damage mechanisms observed from the model were interfacial debonding and matrix plastic deformation. Numerical simulations have shown that the magnitude of stress is significantly higher at the interfaces, especially in the areas with high fibre densities. Interface fracture energy, stiffness and strength all played important roles in the overall mechanical performance of the composite. It was also observed that tension cracks normally began with interfacial debonding. The merge of the interfacial and matrix micro-cracks resulted in the final catastrophic fracture.

KW - A. Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs)

KW - B. Fibre/matrix bond

KW - B. Microstructure

KW - C. Computational modelling

KW - Discrete element method

U2 - 10.1016/j.compositesb.2014.12.024

DO - 10.1016/j.compositesb.2014.12.024

M3 - Journal article

VL - 73

SP - 118

EP - 125

JO - Composites Part B: Engineering

JF - Composites Part B: Engineering

SN - 1359-8368

ER -