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U.S. Department of Energy
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Bounds on the strength distribution of unidirectional fiber composites

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/350948· OSTI ID:350948
;  [1];  [2]
  1. Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)
  2. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)

Failure mechanisms under tensile loading of unidirectional fiber composites comprising of Weibull fibers embedded in a matrix are studied using Monte-Carlo simulations. Two fundamental mechanisms of failure are recognized--stress concentration driven failure and strength driven failure. It is shown that the cumulative distribution function for composite strength predicted by the stress concentration -driven failure and strength-driven failure form apparent upper and lower bounds respectively and also that failure mechanism switches from one to the other as fiber strength variability changes.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Assistant Secretary for Management and Administration, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-36
OSTI ID:
350948
Report Number(s):
LA-UR--99-963; CONF-990615--; ON: DE99002725
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English