Axial Loading of a Unidirectional Composite

Abstract

The behavior of a unidirectional fiber-reinforced composite subjected to axial loading is investigated. The elastic analysis of a composite containing a hexagonal array of perfectly bonded circular filaments is formulated to simulate the axial loading of a unidirectional composite. A modified plane strain theory is adopted so that the existing methodology of Muskhelishvili can be utilized. The resulting power series solution along with a point matching technique yields a system of simultaneous equations. Once these equations are solved, the interface, matrix, and filament stresses are found. Graphical presentation of these stresses is made. The conclusions arrived at are that the maximum in-plane stresses are small relative to the applied axial stress and occur at the fiber- matrix interface. These stresses are directly related to the dif ference of the Poisson's ratios of the fiber and matrix. Lastly, the assumption of axial symmetry is valid when considering a unidi rectional composite under axial loading.