Transverse stiffness properties of unidirectional fiber composites containing debonded fibers

First-principles micromechanics modeling for the determination of transverse stiffness properties of a unidirectional fiber composite with fiber–matrix interfacial debonding is presented. The composite has a packing arrangement of a periodic square array of fibers, but contains randomly distributed debonded fibers. The finite element method is employed for the exact treatment of local microscopic stress and strain fields in a representative volume element of the composite material, and of the nonlinear problem of separation and contact of fiber and matrix at debonded interface. The randomness of the distribution of debonded fibers is dealt with by means of the Monte Carlo method, and the composite stiffness properties are found as ensemble average properties over a large number of representative volume elements. Bimodular behavior of the composite under transverse loading, i.e., different stiffnesses in tension and compression, is accurately captured.