Determining the interfacial toughness from force–displacement curves in the pull-out and microbond tests using the alternative method

Our ‘alternative’ method of determining interfacial strength parameters in the pull-out and microbond test, based on measuring the maximum pull-out force, Fmax, and the initial post-debonding force, Fb, has been extended to the energy-based approach (estimation of the interfacial toughness, Gic, and the interfacial frictional stress, τf). The comparison of the Gic values calculated using the proposed method and the traditional one (using the debond force, Fd, instead of Fb) for several fiber–matrix systems showed that both methods yielded very similar results. Thus, the new method can be recommended as an additional technique of Gic determination to be used instead of, or together with the traditional approach.