3.

MICROMECHANICS OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS

3.1 Introduction
3.2 Representative Volume and Limits on Fiber Volume Fraction
3.3 Methods of Analysis
3.4 Mechanics of Material approach:
• Longitudinal modulus , E1
• Major Poisson's ratio, ν12
• Transverse modulus, E2
• Shear modulus, G12
• Coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE)
• Moisture Expansion (MTE)

3.5 Summary of Halpin Tsai’s Semi Empirical Equations

3.6 Micromechanics of Strength
3.7 Closing remarks
3.1 Micromechanics Analysis Of Composite Materials
So far we have talked on apparent homogenized properties of a fiber reinforced lamina.
Now we will examine how we can calculate the homogeneous lamina properties from the
heterogeneous composite material constituent properties.

Micromechanics: Study of mechanical behavior of a composite material in terms

of its constituent materials”

Macromechanics: Study of mechanical behavior of a homogenized composite material.

Constituent Materials:
Fiber (Graphite, boron, Silicon): Ef , νf , Gf, and Vf
Matrix (Resin): Em , νm , Gm Vm

Volume fraction: 1 - Unit volume of composite

Vf = Fiber volume fraction = Vol. of fiber / Total volume
Vm = Matrix volume fraction = volume of matrix / Total volume

If no voids in the composites.

Then Vf + Vm = volume of composite = 1
∴ Vf + Vm = 1, if Volume of voids = 0
3.2 Representative Volume & Limits on Fiber Volume Fraction
Photomicrographs of Transverse Section of Unidirectional Composites

Silicon carbide/glass ceramic composite (Vf=.40) Carbon/epoxy (AS4/3501-6) composite (Vf=.70)

Square array
Hexagonal array
Representative Unit Cell (Cont.)

(a) Square array fiber distribution

1
1 x 1 x 1 (unit length)

df diameter of the fiber

1

πd 2f
Vf =
4
Vf is maximum when df = 1

πd 2 π
∴ Vf = = = 0.785
4 4
Vf = 0.785
(b) Hexagonal Array fiber distribution

a/2
R
a
60o 60o
o
30

tan 30 = ( a / 2) R

a 3
R= =
At = 12
1a  3 3 3 2 a
R = 3a a= a 2 tan 30 2
2 2  2 2
A f = πR f 2

Af 3 3 2
= πR f 2 a Fiber area fraction is max when Rf= R
At 2
Af 3 2 3 3 2 π
= πa a = = 0.907
At 4 2 2 3
Vf = 0.907
 3.3 METHODS OF MICROMECHANICS

1. Mechanics of Materials

2. Elasticity Approach: (i) Boundary principles

(ii) Exact solutions

(iii) Approximate solutions

3. Numerical : (i) Finite-difference,

(ii) Finite element,

(iii) Boundary element method

4. Experimental: Photoelasticity

In this course we address only the simple “Mechanics of materials” method.

Assumptions in Micromechanics of Composites

The Lamina is : Macroscopically homogeneous

Linearly elastic
Macroscopically Orthotropic
Initially stress free

The fibers are : Homogeneous

Linearly elastic
Isotropic/Orthotropic
Regularly spaced
Perfectly aligned

The matrix is : Homogeneous

Linearly elastic
Isotropic
 3.4 Mechanics of Materials Method
x2 Representative Unit Cell of a Lamina x2

Fiber Matrix
spacing
Fiber

Matrix
nit
1=u
1=unit
x1 x3 Schematic of the unit cell

wm/2
Fiber
spacing wf
w=1
wm/2

1 T=1

Volume of fiber = Af x 1 = Af ∴ Fiber volume fraction = Af/Ac = Vf

Volume of matrix = Am x l = Am Matrix volume fraction = Am/Ac = Vm
Volume of composite = Vc = Ac x 1 Also Wf/W= Vf
and Wm/W= Vm
(a) Determination of E1
x2
∆w/2
E1
Matrix
x1
σ1 w Fiber σ1 Ef
Matrix Em

L ∆L
0 Vf 1.0

Assumption: Axial (x-) strain is same for the lamina, fiber and matrix
∆L
∴ Strain in the composite ε1 = = ε f = εm
L
Total force in composite σ 1 Ac = σ f A f + σ m Am
A A
∴ Stress in the composite σ 1 = σ f f + σ m m = σ f Vf + σ mVm
Ac Ac
ε1 E1 = ε1 E f V f + ε1 Em Vm

∴ E1 = E f V f + Em Vm Rule of mixtures
(b) Determination of ν12 ∆w/2
∆W
Lateral strain due to σ1 , ε2 = Matrix
W
ε w Fiber
Poisson's ratio (Major) ν12 =− 2
ε1 Matrix

∆W − ε1 ν f W f − ε1 νm Wm
ε2 = = L ∆L
W W

ν12
ε2 = − ε1 ν f V f − ε1 νm Vm
ε2 νf
∴ ν12 = − = ν f V f + νm Vm
ε1 νm

0 1.0
νν12 =ν
12 = ν ff V +ν
Vff + νm
mVVm
m
Vf
 (c) Determination of E2 x2 σ2
E2/Em

∆w/2 10
Ef/Em=100
Matrix
10
x1
w Fiber 1 1
Matrix
0 1.0
∆w/2 Vf

σ2
Assumption: Transverse stress, σ2, is same in composite, fiber, and the matrix
σ2 σ
∴ ∆W = ε 2 W = Wf + 2 Wm
Ef Em

σ2 Wf Wm
or = σ2 + σ2
E2 Ef W Em W

1 V f Vm
∴ = + Reciprocal theory
E2 E f Em
 2 (d) Determination of G12

wm/2
∆m/2
Matrix
1 wf ∆f
w Fiber

Matrix τ wm/2 ∆m/2

∆
τ
Assumption: Shearing stress (τ) in composite, fiber and matrix is same .

τ ∆m = Wmγ m
Shear strain in Composite: γ= Matrix
G12
Fiber ∆f = Wf γ
τ
f
Shear strain in Matrix: γm =
Gm τW Wmτ Wf τ
∆= = +
τ G12 Gm Gf
Shear strain in Fiber γ f =
Gf
11 V
Vm V
Vff
τW == m ++
Total shear deformation ∆ = γW = G
G12
12 G
G m G
m Gff
G12
G12 f Gm
G12 =
V f Gm + Vm G12 f
 Thermal Expansion Coefficients
Longitudinal expansion coefficients α1T 1 = 2 = 3
2 F
∴ α1T = α m
T
− 4
Vm WEm
F/2
αm
T
Matrix
F
α Tf
F 1 α1T = α Tf + 5
w Fiber Vf WE f
Matrix F/2
From 4 & 5

L ∆L F
 1 1 

αm
T
− α Tf =  +  6
W
 Vm Em V f E f 

Assumption: Longitudinal thermal strains are

() Vm Em + Vf E f )
same in fiber,matrix and lamina.

Thermal expansion of the unit cell = ∆L = α1T L 1 (

F = α mT − α Tf
(Vm EmVf E f )
FL
Fiber = α Tf L + 2 Solving for F from Eq. 6 and substituting in
V f WE f Eq. 4 we get

FL α
α
TT
m E
E m V
Vm ++ α
α
TT
ff E
E ff V
Vff
Matrix = α mT L − 3 α
α11 ==
TT m m m
Vm WEm E
EmmVVmm ++ E
E ff VVff
(b) Transverse Expansion Coefficient α2
T

Note: Accounting for the Poisson's deformation due to tension/compression forces F;

we can refine expression to (using energy principles)

α2T = α m
T
( )
Vm (1 + νm ) + α Tf V f 1 + ν f − ν12 α1T
 Halpin-Tsai’s Equations

Of all the micromechanics equations Halpin- Tsai’s semi-empirical equations are accurate and simple.
Halpin and Tsai showed that the Hermans solution to Hill’s self consistent model can be reduced to the
approximate form

E1 = E f V f + Em Vm
ν12 = ν f V f + νm Vm

1 + ξ1 η1V f
E2 = Em
1 − η1V f
where,
E f − Em
η1 = ξ1 = 2 gives accurate E2 values
E f + ξ1 Em

1 + ξ2η2Vf
G12 = Gm
1 − η2Vf

G f − Gm
η2 = Best results were found for ξ2 = 1
G f + ξ2 Gm
 Thermal expansion coefficients for Orthotropic fibers

Hashin, “analysis of properties of fiber composites with anisotropic constituents” J. of App. Mech.,
vol. 48, 1979, p543.

E1 f α1Tf V f + Em α m Vm
α1T =
E1 f V f + Em Vm

α1Tf & α2T f are axial and transverse thermal expansion coefficients of fiber respectively

ν12 f is the major Poisson's ratio of fiber

 α T 
1 f
α2T = α2T f V f 1 + ν12 f T  + α m
α2 f 
T
(
Vm (1 + νm ) − ν12 f V f + νm Vm α1T )


Material α1 10-6/ oC α2 10-6/ oC

Boron/Epoxy (boron/AVCO5505) 6.1 30.3
Carbon/Epoxy (AS4/3501-6) -0.9 27.0
S-Glass / Epoxy (S-Glass / ERLA4617) 6.6 19.7
Kevlar / Epoxy (Kevlar49 / ERLA4617) -4.0 57.6
 Moisture expansion coefficients (CME)
Most fibers do not absorb moisture (except kevlar), therefore we can neglect CME of fibers

(a) Isotropic fiber and matrix

βmM Em Vm βmM Em Vm
β1M = =
Em Vm + E f V f E1

β2M = βmM Vm (1 + νm ) − ν12 β1M

(b) Orthotropic fibers

βmM Em Vm
β1M =
Em Vm + E1 f V f

(
β2M = βmM Vm (1 + νm ) − ν12 f V f + νm Vm β1M )
 3.6.0 Micromechanics of Strength Models
Principal Strength Parameters of a Lamina
x2 x2 σ1 ≥ F1c
σ1 ≤ F1t
σ1 σ1
x1 x1
σ1
σ1
Longitudinal tensile strength Longitudinal compression strength

σ2 x2 σ2 ≤ F2t σ2 x2 σ2 ≥ F2t

x1 x1

σ2 σ2
Transverse tensile strength Transverse compression strength
x2
τxy

x1 τxy≤F12 or F6

τxy
In-plane shear strength
 3.6.1 Longitudinal Tensile Strength (F1t)

ε uft < ε mt
u ε mt
u
< ε uft

Fiber Stress Fiber

Stress

Composite Composite

Matrix Matrix

ε uft ε mt
u
ε uft Strain
Strain ε mt
u

F1t = E f ε uft V f + Em ε uft Vm F1t = E f ε mt

u
V f + Em ε mt
u
Vm
 (b) Fiber Dominated Failure Mechanism

Fiber strength varies from

point-point and fiber to fiber.

(a) Transverse Matrix Cracking (b) Fiber Matrix Debond (c) Conical Shear Fracture

Brittle matrix & strong interface Weak interface and/or high Ductile matrix & strong interface
Ceramic composites ultimate fiber strain Metal matrix composites
(Silicon carbide/glass ceramic) (Glass/epoxy)
 3.6.2 COMPRESSION FAILURE MODES
Unidirectional Composites
Failure Modes
1. Matrix Yielding ( )
F1c = v f E f + vm Em ε my

2. Fiber Crushing F1c = (v f E f + vm Em )ε fc

3. Fiber Microbuckling
Elastic model
Elastic-Plastic model

ELASTIC MICROBUCKLING MODELS

Linear Elastic Microbuckling Model
(Rosen1965 and Hanasaki and Hasegawa1974)

σ c = π EfVf  d  +
2 Gm Gm = Shear modulus of the matrix
3  λ  1− V f d = Fiber diameter
λ = Wavelength of microbuckle

Nonlinear Elastic Microbuckling Model

(Wang1978 and Wisnom1990)
Gm γ γ = Composite shear strain at failure
σc = α = Initial misalignment angle
Vm ( γ + α )
 RIGID-PLASTIC MICROBUCKLING MODELS
Unidirectional Composites

Fiber Misalignment Model of Argon1972

τysm
σc =
φο σ
τysm= Yield strength of the matrix
φο = Fiber misalignment angle

ε
σ
Finite-Strain Fiber Kinking Model of
Budiansky1983 and Fleck and Budiansky1991 φo

σ Tys2 2
Kink
band
1+τ  tan β
σc = τysm  ysm
β
φ φ
σTys = Transverse yield strength
β = Kink-band angle Kink Final
σ formation fracture

α=2 to 5 deg for unidirectional composites

Initial fiber
misalignment
β =15-25 deg
 3.6.3 Transverse Tension Strength (F2t)
Fmt = Matrix tensile strength
Local σrm = Residual stress in matrix
Stresses εrm = Residual stress in matrix
Stress criterion
F2 t = 1
Kσ ( Fmt − σ rm )
Kσ = Stress concentration factor

Progressive
Microcracking

Strain criterion

F2 t =
1−ν m
Kσ (1+ν m )(1− 2ν m ) ( Fmt − ε rm Em )
Stress Concentration
Strain Concentration

Boron/Epoxy

1. Adams & Doner, 1967, J. Comp. Mat

2. Danial, Broutman, & Krock, 1974
 3.6.4 Transverse Compression Strength (F2c)

High compressive stress at the interface of the fiber and matrix

causes crushing compressive failure in matrix and/or fiber

F2 c = 1
Kσ ( Fmc + σ rm )
Fmc = Compression strength of matrix.
σrm = Maximum residual stress
Kσ = Stress concentration factor

Shear failure mode under compression

 3.6.5 In-Plane Shear Strength (F6)

The high shear stress at the interface can cause shear

failure in matrix and/or fiber-matrix debonding.

Fms
F6 =
Kτ
Fms = Shear strength of matrix.
Kτ = Stress concentration factor

1. Adams & Doner, 1967, J. Comp. Mat