Prediction of mechanical properties of unidirectional fiber reinforced composite with fiber-matrix debonding

The present study aims at prediction of mechanical properties of unidirectional FRP composite for complete range of fiber volume fractions at different levels of fiber-matrix interfacial debonding using micro-mechanical models. Three dimensional finite element models have been developed from the representative volume elements of the composite, which are in the form of square unit cells. Mechanical properties E₁, E₂, E₃, ν₁₂, ν₂₃, ν₃₁, ν₂₁, ν₃₂, and ν₁₃, are determined for fiber volume fractions (V_f) between 0.1 to 0.75. The finite element software ANSYS 10.0 has been successfully executed to evaluate the properties. The results of the present analysis are found to be in close agreement with solutions available in the literature for the cases of perfect bonding and complete debonding at fiber-matrix interface at various fiber volume fractions. The method is successfully extended to various values of circumferential debonding between perfect bonding to complete debonding for entire range of fiber volume fractions and the results are presented in graphs. The effect of debonding on the mechanical properties is discussed.