Simplified micromechanics approach to analysis the performance of UD composites

Abstract

A simplified micromechanical approach is used for the modelling and analysis of unidirectional (UD) composite performance. In this paper, the influence of volume fraction and constituent properties on the effective longitudinal, transverse, and shear properties of unidirectional composites are investigated. These effective properties are determined using the micromechanical approach, which is based on mathematical modelling using the rule of mixtures. Four different types of unidirectional composites such as T300/BSL914C, IM7/8511-7, T300/PR319, and S2-Glass/epoxy were used for analysis purposes. The method was validated with existing experimental results. The response is dependent on an array of parameters, such as the orientation of fibers, the volume fractions of fibers, array of fibers and the material properties of their constituents. Further, this micromechanical method might be used with other reinforcing fibers for the prediction of properties of UD, hybrid and other composites architectures.