Interfacial debonding analysis in multiple fiber reinforced composites

Decohesion at multiple fiber interfaces of elastic fiber reinforced composites is modeled by the Voronoi cell finite element model (VCFEM) in this paper. Interfacial debonding is accommodated by cohesive zone models, in which normal and tangential springs tractions are expressed in terms of interfacial separation. Model simulations are compared with results from experiments using cruciform specimens; of single and multiple fiber polymer-matrix composites. An inverse problem is solved to calibrate the cohesive zone parameters. Debonding at fiber-matrix interfaces is simulated for different architectures, volume fractions and boundary conditions, to understand the influence of microstructural morphology and boundary conditions on the decohesion process. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.