A Probabilistic Micromechanics Model for Damaged Composites

Abstract

The generalized method of cells, an interfacial constitutive model and a probabilistic model are combined to yield an approach for modeling the stress-strain response of fibrous composites with fiber/matrix interfacial damage. It has been shown that the limitations of a single repeating cell in representing the response of a composite with debonding interfaces can be overcome through the introduction of a probabilistic modelling approach based upon an effective interfacial strength. This approach is used to recover the transverse tensile and axial shear response of unidirectional silicon-carbide/titanium as measured in the laboratory.