Micromechanisms of load transfer in a unidirectional carbon fibre–reinforced epoxy composite due to fibre failures. Part 1: Micromechanisms and 3D analysis of load transfer: The elastic case

This study gives a detailed analysis of load distributions around fibre breaks in a composite and the mechanisms involved in load transfer. In contrast to other studies reported in the literature the analysis considers different configurations of composite damage from the failure of a few fibres to the failure of many. The model considers the elastic case with and without debonding at the broken fibre/matrix interface. In this way, the usual limitations of the finite element approach are overcome so as to take into account the numbers and interactions of broken fibres whilst maintaining an evaluation of the various fields involved, in particular the stress fields associated with fibre failures.