Probabilistic models of the stress-rupture of composite materials: Phase V. Progress report, June 15, 1981-June 14, 1982
The building blocks of composite structures are typically bundles of brittle fibers impregnated with a flexible matrix. Tensile failure of these bundles is a complex statistical process involving scattered failure of the fibers at flaw sites, and overloading of neighboring fibers at these sites by way of stress transfer through the matrix, and the growth of sequences of adjacent fiber breaks to some critical, unstable size. Fracture results from the growth of a catastrophic crack from one of these failure sequences. Time-dependent failure in the long term (stress or creep-rupture) results from thermally activated growth of flaws in the fibers, or viscoelastic creep in the matrix, or a combination of both. This creep causes a widening pattern of stress redistribution on fibers near fiber breaks that is ultimately felt as increasing overload factors in time. Major progress has been made on this contract in modeling and understanding the statistical strength and stress rupture of composites.
- Research Organization:
- Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (USA). Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- DOE Contract Number:
- AS02-76ER04027
- OSTI ID:
- 5434925
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/ER/04027-5; COO-4027-5; ON: DE82009111
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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