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Introduction to Composite
Materials and Structures
Nachiketa Tiwari
Nachiketa Tiwari
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
Lecture 29
Failure of Unidirectional Composites
Failure of Unidirectional Layer Under
Longitudinal Compression
• When a unidirectional lamina is subjected to increasing compressive force
in longitudinal direction, it can fail in different modes. These failure modes
are:
– Tensile failure in transverse direction
– Microbuckling of fibers while matrix is still elastic
– Microbuckling of fibers only after matrix has yielded and has debonded
g y y with fibers
– Shear failure
• Microbuckling of fibers while matrix is still elastic: This failure mode
Microbuckling of fibers while matrix is still elastic: This failure mode
typically occurs especially when fiber volume fraction is very low.
– In such a case, individual continuous long fibers act as very long and slender columns,
supported throughout their length on an elastic foundation
supported throughout their length on an elastic foundation.
– In such a situation, when fibers are compressed beyond a threshold, they buckle at
relatively low values of external compressive load, because the transverse support
offered by matrix is not significant as its modulus is very low vis‐à‐vis that of fibers.
y g y
– Thus, in such cases, microbuckling fibers occurs, while matrix is still elastic.
Microbuckling of Fibers
Microbuckling of Fibers
• Microbuckling of fibers preceded by matrix yielding and debonding: When
fiber volume fraction is moderate or high, then the support offered by the
matrix in transverse direction becomes significant. This is because the
transverse modulus of composite is appreciably higher than of pure matrix
material.
– In
In such a case, matrix begins to yield.
such a case, matrix begins to yield.
– This is followed by debonding of the matrix‐fiber interface, or micro‐cracking of matrix
material.
– Once debondingg or micro‐cracking occurs in matrix, the lateral support offered by matrix
g , pp y
is lost, and fibers undergo microbuckling.
• Two adjacent fibers in a unidirectional composite under compression may
Two adjacent fibers in a unidirectional composite under compression may
either buckle in a sort of “cooperative way” or independent of each other.
This is discussed further.
Microbuckling of Fibers
Microbuckling of Fibers
• Consider Fig. 29.1. Here four adjacent fibers have buckled in a way such
that transverse deformations of a particular fiber is opposite in sign as that
of adjacent fiber. In such a case, the matrix material between two fibers is
exhibits predominantly extensional strains, i.e. the strains are either
compressive, or tensile in nature. Microbuckling of this mode is commonly
known as extension mode microbuckling.
known as extension mode microbuckling.
• Next, consider Fig. 29.2. Here four adjacent fibers have buckled in a way
such that transverse deformations of a particular fiber are same in sign as
that of adjacent fiber. In such a case, the matrix material between two
fibers is exhibits predominantly shear strains, i.e. the strains are either
compressive, or tensile in nature. Microbuckling of this mode is commonly
known as shear mode microbuckling.
Microbuckling of Fibers
Microbuckling of Fibers
• Extension mode microbuckling typically occurs in composites, which have
very low fiber volume fraction. In such unidirectional composites, the
distance between two adjacent fibers is fairly large.
• Shear mode microbuckling typically occurs in composites, which have very
moderate or high fiber volume fraction.
d t hi h fib l f ti
• In such unidirectional composites, the distance between two adjacent
In such unidirectional composites, the distance between two adjacent
fibers is small, and thus, transverse deformation of one fiber has a
significant influence on that of the adjacent fiber.
Microbuckling of Fibers
g
• It has been found that theoretical calculations for this strength, as
performed by Rosen who used microbuckling event as failure point for the
f db R h d i b kli t f il i t f th
composite, are in significant disagreement with measured values.
• In contrast, if matrix debonding is used as the failure initiation point for
calculating longitudinal compressive strength, then consequential failure
criteria is in good agreement with experimental observations
criteria is in good agreement with experimental observations.
Transverse Tensile Failure
• As mentioned earlier, transverse tensile failure is another important
As mentioned earlier transverse tensile failure is another important
failure mode for unidirectional lamina subjected to compressive stress in
fiber direction.
• In such a case, the unidirectional compressive force causes tensile strains
in transverse direction due to Poisson ratio effect.
• If the value of this transverse tensile strain exceeds the ultimate
transverse strain capability of lamina, cracks develop at fiber‐matrix
i bili fl i k d l fib i
interface, which propagate in fiber direction to cause composite failure.
This is shown in Fig. 29.3.
Fig. 29.3: Transverse tensile
g
failure in a composite
specimen causing cracks at
matrix‐fiber interface
Shear Failure
Shear Failure
• In some cases, unidirectional lamina fails in shear when subjected to
compressive loads. Such a failure mode is depicted in Fig. 29.4.
i l d S h f il d i d i t d i Fi 29 4
• Such a failure mode typically happens, when fiber volume fractions are
Such a failure mode typically happens, when fiber volume fractions are
very high, and fibers are very well aligned to direction of loading. In such a
case, the failure of composite can be directly correlated to shear failure of
fibers.
fibers
Fig. 29.4: Unidirectional
composite under high
composite under high
compression may fail under shear
especially if fiber volume fraction
is high.
R f
References
2
2. Mechanics
M h i off Composite
C i Materials,
M i l Jones,
J R M.,
R. M Mc‐Graw
M G
Hill.