Global load-sharing model for unidirectional hybrid fibre-reinforced composites

Yentl Swolfs*, R. M. McMeeking, V. P. Rajan, F. W. Zok, Ignaas Verpoest, Larissa Gorbatikh

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

38 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A promising strategy to increase the tensile failure strain of carbon fibre-reinforced composites is to hybridise carbon fibres with other, higher-elongation fibres. The resulting increase in failure strain is known as the hybrid effect. In the present article, a global load-sharing model for hybrid composites is developed and used to carry out a parametric study for carbon/glass hybrids. Hybrid effects of up to 15% increase in failure strain are predicted, corresponding reasonably well to literature data. Scatter in the carbon fibre strength is shown to be crucial for the hybrid effect, while the scatter in glass fibre strength is much less important. In contrast to reports in earlier literature, the ratio of failure strains of the two fibres has only a small influence on the hybrid effect. The results provide guidelines for designing optimal hybrid composites.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)380-394
Number of pages15
JournalJournal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids
Volume84
Early online date18 Aug 2015
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2015

Keywords

  • A. Strengthening and mechanisms
  • B. Fibre-reinforced composite material
  • C. Hybrid composites
  • C. Probability and statistics

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