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CHAPTER4
COMPOSITEPROPERTIESMICROMECHANICS
4.1INTRODUCTION
4.2UNIDIRECTIONALCOMPOSITES
4.2.1ElasticProperties(EngineeringConstants)
4.2.2StrengthPropertiesofUnidirectionalComposites
4.2.3HygrothermalProperties
4.3PARTICULATEANDSHORTFIBRECOMPOSITES
4.3.1ParticulateComposites
4.3.2ShortFibreComposites
4.4BIBLIOGRAPHY
4.5EXERCISES

4.1INTRODUCTION
Themechanicalandhygrothermalpropertiesofcompositesareofparamountimportanceinthe
design and analysis of composite structures. The mechanical properties constitute primarily the moduli
and strength properties. The hygrothermal properties are coefficient of expansion due to moisture (),
misturediffusioncoefficient(d),coefficientofthermalexpansion(),thermalconductivity(k)andheat
capacity (c). Micromechanical analyses concern with the theoretical prediction of these properties of
constituentfibresandmatricesaswellasseveralotherparametersliketheshape,sizeanddistributionof
fibres,fibremisalignment,fibrematrixinterfaceproperties,voidcontent,fibrefracture,matrixcracking
andsoon.Thestudiesinmicromechanicsutilizemicromodels,asthefibrediametersusuallyvaryinthe
microscopicscalebetween5140m.Themicromodelsshouldsimulatethemicrostructureofarealistic
composite, but that usually makes the models highly complex. The problems involving such complex
models are normally tackled utilizing advanced analytical methods as well as numerical analysis
techniques(finite element and finite difference methods). Even in the case of a complex model, a
simplifiedidealizationwithareasonablygoodapproximationoftherealcompositeisdesirableotherwise
it may lead to nowhere. It is not intended in this chapter to present the complete theoretical basis of
variousmicromodels used for the analytical prediction of all composite properties. The presentation is
limitedtoonlyafewsimplercasessoastoacquaintthereaderofthebackgroundofthedevelopmentin
thisarea.Additionalmicromechanicsrelationsforunidirectionalcomposites,thatmayfinduseindesign
applications, are listed in Table 4.1. Typical properties of some of the common fibres and matrices are
listedinTables4.2and4.3,respectively.Thecompositepropertiesofafewcompositesystemsderived
using some of the relations presented in this chapter are listed in Table 4.4. Tables 4.1 through 4.4 are
includedattheendofthischapter.

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4.2UNIDIRECTIONALCOMPOSITES
4.2.1ElasticProperties(EngineeringConstants)
Thestressstrainrelationprovidesthebasicinterfacebetweenamaterialandastructure.Foraone
dimensionalisotropic,elasticbody,theHooke'slaw=E definesthestressstrainbehaviour.HereEis
amaterialconstantandisusuallyreferredaselasticconstant(engineeringconstant)orYoung'smodulus.
Besides E, the other conventional engineering constant for a twodimensional or threedimensional
isotropicbodyisPoisson'sratio.TheshearmodulusGisnotindependent,butisrelatedtoEandas
G = E/2(1+ ). A composite material is essentially heterogeneous in nature, therefore the engineering
constants, defined above, for an isotropic material are not valid. We consider here a threedimensional
blockofaunidirectionalcomposite(Fig.4.1),inwhichfibresarealignedalongthex'1axis.Theelastic
behaviourforsuchathreedimensionalbody
isorthotropic,andtheengineeringconstantsare ,
,
(threeYoung'smodulialongthreeprincipal
materialaxesx'1,x'2,x'3),'12,'13,'23,'21,'31,'32,(sixPoisson'sratios)andG'12,G'13,G'23,(three
shear moduli). Of these, the first nine engineering constants i.e., three Young`s moduli and six Poisson
ratiosarenotindependent.Duetosymmetryofcompliances(seeEq.6.18)thesearerelatedasgivenby
(4.1)

Notethat,

(4.2)

Here'12and'13areusuallyreferredasmajorPoissonratios.
The'mechanicsofmaterialsapproach' providesconvenientmeans to determine the composite
elasticproperties.Itisassumedthatthecompositeisvoidfree,thefibrematrixbondisperfect,thefibres
areofuniformsizeandshapeandarespacedregularly,andthematerialbehaviourislinearandelastic.
Consideratwodimensionalunidirectionallamina(Fig.4.2),inwhichwedefineasmallvolume
elementwhichrepresentsnotonlythemicrolevelstructuraldetailsbutalsotheoverallbehaviourofthe
composite.Asimplerepresentativevolumeelementconsistsofanisotropicfibreembeddedinanisotropic
matrix(Fig.4.2b).ThisvolumeelementisfurthersimplifiedasshowninFig.4.2c,inwhichthefibreis
assumed to have a rectangular crosssection with the same thickness as the matrix. The width ratio is
chosentobethesameasthefibrevolumefractionofthecompositeitself.Theobjectiveistoderivethe
compositeproperties(E'11,E'22,'12,G12)intermsofthemoduli,Poisson`sratiosandvolumefractions
ofthefibreandthematrix.

Longitudinalmodulus,E'11
Themicromodel(Fig.4.2c)issubjectedtoauniaxialtensilestress`11asshowninFig.4.3.Itis

assumedthatplanesectionsremainplaneafterdeformation.Hence,
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'11= '11f= '11m=L/L

and'11f=E'11f '11,'11m=E'11m '11,'11=E'11 '11(4.3)

Now,'11W='11fWf+'11mWm(4.4)

SubstitutingEq.(4.3)intoEq.(4.4)andrearranging,wehave
E'11=E'11fWf/W+E'11mWm/W(4.5)

Notingthatthevolumefractionsofthefibreandthematrixare
Vf=Wf/WandVm=Wm/Wrespectively,Eq.4.5reducesto
E'11=E'11fVf+E'11mVm(4.6)

Equation4.6definesthecompositepropertyasthe'weighted'sumofconstituentpropertiesandisoften
termedasthe'ruleofmixture'.

Transversemodulus,E'22
Thetensilestress'22isappliedalongthex'2direction(Fig.4.4)andthesameisassumedtoact

bothonthefibreandthematrix.Thestrainonthefibreandthematrixare
'22f='22/E'22fand '22m='22/E'22m(4.7)

also '22=W/W
andW= '22f(VfW)+ '22m(VmW)

So, '22=W/W= '22fVf+ '22mVm

or,

or,

or,

(4.8)

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MajorPoisson'sRatio,'12
ThemicromodelisstressedasinthecaseofdeterminationofE`11 (Fig.4.3).Thetransverse
contractionisnotedasWandiscontributedbyboththefibreandmatrix.Thus,
W=(W)f+(W)m
or,W=WVf'12f '11+WVm'12m '11(4.9)

Now,

(4.10)

and '22=W/W(4.11)

CombiningEqs.4.9through4.11,oneobtains

or,'12=Vf'12f+Vm'12m(4.12)

InplaneShearModulus,G'12
Themicromodelisnowsubjectedtoashearstress'12asshowninFig.4.5,andbothandthe
fibreandthematrixareassumedtoexperiencethesameshearstress.
'12f='12/G'12fand '12m='12/G'12m(4.13)

Now,= '12W=WVf '12f+WVm '12m

or, '12=Vf '12f+Vm '12m(4.14)

also,

(4.15)

SubstitutingEqs.4.13and4.15intoEq.4.14andeliminating'12frombothsides,weget

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or,

(4.16)

Notethat,foranisotropicfiber
E'11f=E'22f=Ef,'12f=f

and

(4.17)

andforanisotropicmatrix
E'11m=E'22m=Em,'12m=m
and

(4.18)

Equations4.6and4.12provideareasonablyaccurateestimateoflongitudinalmodulusE11 and12,
respectively.However,thetransversemodulusE22andtheshearmodulusG12,estimatedusingEqs.
4.8and4.16,arenotsoaccuratemainlyduetothereasonthatthestressesinboththefibreandthematrix
are assumed to be the same. The volume element considered in the above mechanics of materials
approach does not adequately represent the micro structure of the composite. Advanced analytical
methodsemploybettermicromodelsalongwiththerealisticmaterialbehaviourandboundryconditions.
The analytical method using a selfconsistent field model provides a better estimation of composite
propertiesincomparisontothemechanicsofmaterialsapproach.Themodelassumesthecomposite
to be a concentric cylinder (Fig. 4.6) in which a transversely isotropic matrix. Although the assumed
micromodelissimple,itpermitsformulationoftheproblembasedonthetheoryofelasticitysothatitis
possibletoachievethestressandstrainvariationsinarealisticmanner,andtherelationsfortheeffective
compositepropertiesarethenderived.Thesepropertiesareexpressedasfollows:

(4.19)

(4.20)

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(4.22)

(4.23)
whereK'istheplanestrainbulkmodulus.

(4.24)

inwhichK',G'23,'122andE'11aredefinedinEqs.4.19through4.23.

(4.25)

withE'11,E'22,K',and'12definedintheaboverelations.
Notethatforisotropicfibresandmatrices,

and

(4.26)

4.2.2StrengthPropertiesofUnidirectionalComposites
Thestrengthofamaterialisdefinedasthelevelofstressatwhichfailureoccurs.Thestrengthisa
material constant. Most of the isotropic structural materials possess only one constant i.e., the uniaxial
tensilestrength.Theshearstrengthisnormallyrelatedtothetensilestrength.Abrittleisotropicmaterial
may have different strength values in tension and compression and may be termed as a twoconstant
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material.Incontrast,acompositeisamulticonstantmaterial.ReferringtoFig.4.1,itmaybestatedthata
unidirectional composite may possess three normal strengths X'11, X'22, X'33 and three shear strengths
X'12 , X'13, X'23. A normal strength may have different values in tension and compression, as the
compressiveforceusuallyinducesprematurefailureduetobucklingoffibreswhichhaveextremelyhigh
slenderness ratio. So there are a total of nine independent strength constants X'11t, X'22t, X'33t, X'11c,
X'22c,X'33c,X'12,X'13,X'23.
Attemptsmadeusingmicromechanicalanalysestodeterminethesestrengthconstants,metwith
littlesuccess.Thisisprimarilyduetothereasonthatthemicromodelsusedintheseanalysesaregrossly
unrealistic.Infact,itisextremelydifficulttosimulatetherealisticcomposite,astheinitialmicrostructure
changes continuously with the increase of applied stress and propagation of failure in the form of fibre
fracture, matrix cracking, fibrematrix debond and so on at several points located randomly within the
composite.Thebrittlenessofthefibreandthematrixaggravatesthesituation.ThisisillustratedinFig.
4.7.Notethatlcistheineffectivelength.Thepresenceofasinglesurfaceflawinabrittlefibrecausesthe
fibre to fracture at A (Fig. 4.7a). This induces high shear stresses and causes the fibrematrix debond
alongthefibredirection(Fig.4.7b).Alsowhenafibrefractures,aredistributionofstressesinthevicinity
results in the tensile fracture of the adjacent fibre due to stress concentration. This process leads to the
propagation of the crack in the direction transverse to the propagation of the crack in the direction
transversetothefibres(Fig.4.7c).Infact,thefinalfailureofacompositeisresultedduetothecumulative
damagecausedbyseveralmicroandmacrolevelfailures.

LongitudinalTensileStrength,X'11t
AsimplerelationcanbederivedforthelongitudinaltensilecompositestrengthX'11t usingthe
'ruleofmixtures'andisexpressedas
X'11t=X'11fVf+X'11mVm(4.27)
Hereitisassumedthat,ataparticularlevelofstress,allfibresfractureatthesametimeandthefailure
occurs in the same plane. That this idealization is grossly unrealistic has already been argued in the
precedingparagraph.
Now, let us examine the validity of Eq. 4.27 for two composite systems: (i) a carbon/epoxy
composite,inwhichthefibrefailurestrainislessthanthematrixfailurestrain,i.e., '11fu< '11mu (Fig.
4.8a)and(ii)carbon/carboncompositewhen '11fu > '11mu (Fig.4.8b). In these cases, both fibres and
matricesarebrittle.Inthecaseofcarbon/epoxycomposite,whenVfismuchhigherthanVm,thestrength
ofthecompositeisprimarilycontrolledbythefibrefracture.Oncethefibresfail,verylittleresistanceis
offeredbythematrix.So,thestrengthofthecompositeisgivenby
X'11t=X'11fV'f+'11mVm(4.28)
where'11misthestresslevelinthematrixwhenthefibresfracture.Ontheotherhand,whenVfislow,
thereisasufficientamountofmatrixtoresisttheloadafterthefailureoffibres.Inthatcase,
X'11t=X'11mtVm(4.29)
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ItisthereforeobviousthatthereexistsalimitingvalueofVf atwhichthefinalfailurechangesfromthe
fibre failure mode to the matrix failure mode. One may argue in a similar way to identify the possible
failuremechanisms in the case of a carbon/carbon composite also (Fig. 4.8b) as well as in the cases of
othercompositesinwhicheitherfibresormatricesorbothareductile.Butthefactremainsthatthereisno
singlerelationwhichisabletodefinetheuniaxialtensilestrengthofarealisticcomposite.
However,Rosen'smodelofcumulativedamage,whichisbasedontheWeibulldistributionofthe
strengthlengthrelationship,providessomewhatbetterestimationofX'11t,whenthefibresandthematrix
exhibitbrittlebehaviour.ThismodelassumesthatthecompositeconsistsofNfibresoforiginallengthL
and the weaker fibres fracture due to the applied tensile stress (Fig. 4.9). The original length is then
dividedintoMsegments,whereeachsegment(bundleorlink)isoflength1c.Thusthecompositeformsa
chainofMbundles(links).Whenthenumberoffibresareverylarge(highVf)thestrengthofeachbundle
or chain link assumes the same value, i.e., the strength of the composite becomes equal to the link
strength.Thisisexpressedas
(4.30)
whereandarematerialconstantsandcanbedeterminedexperimentally.Thetensile strength of the
compositeisthendeterminedusing
(4.31)
Notethatlc is called the ineffective length or critical fibre lengthandisdeterminedusingtheshearlag
stress.Itisgivenby

(4.32)
whereX'f is the tensile fracture strength of the fibre, d is the diameter of the fibre and Xi is the fibre
matrixinterfacialshearstrength.
ThelongitudinalcompressivestrengthX'11cofaunidirectionalcompositeisprimarilyaffectedby
thebucklingoffibres.Inasimplifiedmodel,thefibresaretreatedasisotropicthinplateslyinginthex'1
x'2plane(Fig.4.10)andaresupportedonanisotrpicelasticmedium(matrix).Fibresmaybuckleintwo
modesextensionandshear.In
the extension mode, the matrix along the length of the fibre experiences alternate expansion and
contraction,whereasthematrixissubjectedtoshearingdeformationintheshearmode.Thecompressive
strengthisthendeterminedemployingthestrainenergymethod.Fortheextensionalmode,
(4.33)
or,

(4.34)
andfortheshearmode
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(4.35)
Thetransversestrengthpropertiesnormallydependonthematrixproperties.Thetransversetensile
strength X'22t may also depend on the fibrematrix interface strength, as illustrated in Fig. 4.11. The
experimental data for some composites confirm that the transverse tensile strength enhances with the
improvementinthefibrematrixinterfacebond.Theactualfracturepath,however,isamixtureoffibre
matrixdebond,fibresplittingandmatrixcracking.Arealisticmodelshouldbebasedonthevariationof
statisticaldataforallthesefailuremodes.Twosimplerelations,forthepredictionofthetransversetensile
strengthX'22t and transverse compressive strength X'22c ofaunidirectional composite, are presented as
follows:
(4.36)
(4.37)
Theserelationsassumethatthetransversestrengthofacompositeprimarilydependsonthestrengthofthe
matrix.

4.2.3HygrothermalProperties
TransportProperties
The evaluation of transport properties like moisture diffusivity, heat conductivity, electric
conductivity, dielectric constant and magnetic permeability of a unidirectional composite follows the
similar procedure when one uses a selfconsistent field model. The resulting relations are, therefore,
identicalforalltransportproperties.Theprocedureis,hence,illustratedconsideringonlyonecasethe
diffusion of moisture through a unidirectional composite. Consider the concentric cylindrical model as
shown in Fig. 4.6. Both the fibre and the matrix are assumed to be moisture permeable. For example,
aramidfibresandpolymermatricesaremoisturepermeable.Forthediffusionofmoisturealongthefibre
direction(x'1axis),themoisturediffusionequationassumestheform

(4.38)

where C is the moisture concentration per unit volume, t is time and d'11 is the longitudinal moisture
diffusioncoefficientofthecomposite.

Steadystatecondition
Equation4.38takestheform
(4.39)
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Assumingtheboundaryconditions(Fig.4.6)tobeasat
x'1=0,C=0andx'1=L,C=C0(4.40)

thesolutionisderivedas
(4.41)

thatsatisfiesEqs.4.39and4.40.
Thedirectionofmoisturediffusionperunitareaparalleltothex'1directionisdefinedas

(4.42)

Thetotalrateofmoisturediffusingthroughthecrosssectionoftheconcentriccylinderisgivenby
(4.43)

Notethat

and

(4.44)

whered'11fandd'11marethelongitudinalmoisturediffusivitiesforthefibreandthematrix,respectively.
SubstitutingEqs.4.42and4.44inEq.4.43andnotingthat
Rf2/R2=Vfand(R2Rf2)/R2=Vmoneobtains
d'11=d'11fVf+d'11mVm(4.45)

whenthefibres(e.g.,glass,carbon,etc.)areimpermeabletomoisture
d'11=d'11mVm(4.46)

Thetransversemoisturediffusioncoefficientd'22 canalsobedeterminedusingasimilarself
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consistentfieldmodelandis,givenas

(4.47)

Whenfibresareimpermeabletomoisture,Eq.4.47reducesto

(4.48)

The longitudinal and transverse thermal conductivities k'11 and k'22 of the unidirectional
compositecanbedeterminedbyreplacing'd'with'k'inEqs.4.45and4.47,respectively.Notethat,inthat
case,heatconductiontakesplaceboththroughthefibreandthematrix.Theothertransportpropertiescan
alsobederivedinasimilarwayusingEqs.4.45and4.47.

ExpansionalStrains
The longitudinal expansional strains (due to temperature or moisture) of a unidirectional
composite can be determined using the simple 'mechanics of materials approach ' as discussed earlier.
ConsiderthemicromodelinFig.4.3.Thetotallongitudinalstrains,afteraccountingforthe mechanical
strainandtheexpansionalstrain,aregivenas

andalso

andalso

(4.49)

SolvingEqs.(4.49)onegets

and

(4.50)

Assumingfreeexpansion '11= '11e,thefirstrelationofEqs.4.50yields

'11=0(4.51)

Therefore,
'11W='11fWf+'11mWm=0
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or,

(4.52)

DividingEq.(4.52)byWandnotingthat

and

and

Vm=Wm/Woneobtains

(4.53)

Observing that the thermal expansional strain of a specimen of length L due to a rise of

temperature T is given by

= LT, the longitudinal thermal expansion coefficient '11 of a

unidirectionalcompositeisderivedfromEq.4.53asfollows:

(4.54)

Similarly, the longitudinal moisture expansion coefficient '11 ofaunidirectional composite is obtained
fromEq.4.54replacing''by''.
Forthetransverseexpansionalstrain '22e,the'selfconsistentfieldmodel'approachis,however,
preferred.Theexpressionfor '22ecanbederivedas

(4.55)

Thetransversethermalexpansioncoefficient'22isthenderivedfromEq,4.55inasimilarway

(4.56)

Thetransversemoistureexpansioncoefficient'22isobtainedfromEq.(4.56)byreplacing''with''.

4.3PARTICULATEANDSHORTFIBRECOMPOSITES
Aunidirectionalcompositeprovidessomesortofregularityinthemicrostructure,asthefibresare
continuousandalignedinonedirection.Thishelpstoassureasimplemicromodelwithaconstantstrain
orstressfieldandusethe'mechanicsofmaterials'approachtodeterminethecompositeproperties.Sucha
simple analytical treatment with constant stress or constant strain field is not adequate in the case of
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particulateandshortfibrecomposites.Themicrostructureisnotuniformthroughthecompositemedium.
The point to point variation of the microstructure is quite significant in many situations due to wide
variations in the shape, size and properties of fillers and reinforcements and their orientation and
distributioninthematrixphase.Thediscontinuousnatureofsomeofthesereinforcementsaddstomore
complexities. There exist innumerable high stress zones around irregular shaped particulate
reinforcements and at the tips of short fibres. The assumption of constant stress and strain fields is no
morevalid.Furthercomplicationsariseduetotheanisotropycausedbythealignmentofshortfibresand
flakeparticulates.
Alltheseprecludeageneraltreatmentoftheproblem.Asinglecompositemicromodel,innoway
can represent all composites of this category. Composites with different reinforcements may require
different micromodels and analytical treatments. This is probably the main reason why the
micromechanics analysis of this class of composites has not received much attention from researchers.
There is also another important reason for the dearth of information in the area. In comparison to
particulate and short fibre composites, unidirectional composites find extensive uses in structural
componentsinseveralengineeringdisciplines.Thishascreatedmoreawarenessand,inturncontributed
tothegrowthofknowledgeinthemicromechanicsofunidirectionalcomposites,whiletheunderstanding
ofthemicromechanicalbehaviourofparticulateandshortfibrecompositestillcontinuestoremainatits
nascentstage.

4.3.1ParticulateComposites
ThesimplestmechanicsofmaterialsapproachusesclassicalVoigt(constantstrain)andReuss
(constant stress) models to estimate the elastic properties for an isotropic composite. With the Voigt
model,thebulkmoduluskandtheshearmodulusGaregivenas
P=VfPf+VmPm,
whereP=K,G
andE=9KG/(3K+G)
=(3K2G)/(6K+2G)(4.58)

andwiththeReussmodel,therelationsare

(4.59)

ThepropertiespredictedbyVoigtmodel(highest)andReussmodel(lowest)aretwoextremesto
the real values. Several improved analytical models are known to exist, but are not easily amenable to
simpledesignuses.TheHalpinTsaimodel,whichisbasedonasemiempiricalapproach,ispopularand
providesbothupperandlowerboundsthatfallwithintheVoigtandReusslimits.Simplerelationsthatare
developedbasedonanimprovedcombiningrulearefoundtoprovideareasonablygoodestimateofthe
propertiesofanisotropiccomposite(Pf>Pmand0<f<0.5).
Thesearepresentedasfollows:
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(4.60)

withP=K,G.

Forbulkmodulus,

andforshearmodulus,G:

(4.61)

Young 's modulus E and Poisson 's ratio are then determined from Eqs.4.60 and 4.61 using
Eqs.4.58.
Thethermalexpansioncoefficientisgivenby

(4.62)

whereKisobtainedusingEqs.4.60and4.61.

4.3.2ShortFibreComposites
Asimplemodelassumesarandomlyorientedshortfibrecompositeasaquasiisotropicmicro
laminateinwhicheachlaminaconsistsofagroupofshortfibresorientedalongaparticulardirection.P
isdeterminedusingthemodifiedHalpinTsairelationasgivenby

(4.63)

wherefor
E'11,longitudinalmodulus,=2l/D
E'22,transversemodulus,=2
G'12,inplaneshearmodulus,=1
G'23,transverseshearmodulus,=(34m)1
Note,thatlanddarethelengthandthediameteroftheshortfibre,respectively.Boththematrixandthe
fibreareisotropicinnature.ThePoisson'sratio'12isestimatedusingthesimplemixturerule.
Thelongitudinaltensilestrengthisdependentonthecriticalfibrelengthlc(Eq.4.32)andisgiven
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by

where'misthestressonthematrixwhenthefibrebreaks.

Table4.1Additionalmicromechanicsrelationsforunidirectionalcomposites
1. Volumefractions:
Vf+Vm+Vv=1(1)
Foravoidfreecomposite,Vv=0Vf+Vm=1
2. Massfractions
Mf+Mm=1(2)
3. Voidvolumefraction
Vv=1[(Mf/f)+(Mm/m)](3)
4. Compositedensity
=fVf+mVm(4)
5. Fibrevolumefraction

(5)

6. Matrixvolumefraction

(6)

7.Transversemodulus

(7)

8.Shearmoduli

(8a)

(8b)

9.Poisson'sratio

(9)

10.Longitudinalcompressionstrength
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(fibrecrushing)(10a)

(microbuckling)(10b)

(10c)

11.Transversethermalconductivity

(11a)

(11b)

whereKmf=2(Km/Kf1)foracylindricalfibre.

(forMMCs)(11c)

12.Transversemoisturediffusivity

(12a)

(12b)

wheredmf=2(dm/df1)foracylindricalfibre.
13.Thermalexpansioncoefficients

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(13a)

(13b)

(13c)

(forMMCs)

(13d)

14.Transversemoistureexpansioncoefficients

(14)

15.Heatcapacity

(15)

Table4.2:Typicalpropertiesofsomecommonfibres
S.
N0.

Property

Boron

Carbon(T300)

Kelvar
49

SGlass

EGlass

Rayon
(T50)

1.

Fibrediameter,dm

140

12

2.

Density,fgm/cm3

2.63

1.77

1.47

2.49

2.49

1.94

3.

LongitudinalModulus,
E'11fGPa

400

220

150

85

75

380

TransverseModulus,
E'22fGPa

400

14

4.2

85

75

6.2

4.

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5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

COMPOSITEMATERIALSANDSTRUCTURES

LongitudinalShear
modulus,G'12fGPa

170

2.9

36

30

7.6

TransverseShear
modulus,G'23fGPa

170

4.6

1.5

36

30

4.8

LongitudinalPoisson's
ratio,'12f

0.2

0.2

0.35

0.2

0.2

0.2

TransversePoisson's
ratio,'23f

0.2

0.25

0.35

0.2

0.22

0.25

1.30

0.92

1.05

0.71

0.71

0.84

38.0

1003.0

2.94

36.30

13.0

1003.0

38.0

100.3

2.94

36.30

13.0

100.3

5.0

1.0

4.0

5.0

5.0

7.7

5.0

10.1

54

5.0

5.0

10.1

Boron

Carbon(T300)

Kelvar
49

SGlass

EGlass

Rayon
(T50)

4140

2415

2760

4140

2760

1730

4830

1800

500

3450

2400

1380

700

550

400

1050

690

350

Nickel

Titan

Heatcapacity,Cf
kJ/(kgk)

10.

LongitudinalHeat
conductivityk'11f
W/(mk)

11.

TransverseHeat
conductivityk'22f
W/(mk)

12.

Longitudinalthermal
Expansioncoefficient,
'11f106m/m/K

13.

Transversethermal
expansioncoefficient,
'22f106m/m/K

S.
N0.

Property

14.

Longitudinal
compressivestrength,
X'11ftMPa

15.

Longitudinal
compressivestrength,
X'11fcMPa

16.

Shearstrength,X'12f
MPa

Table4.3:Typicalpropertiesofsomecommonmatrices
S

Property

Poly

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Epoxy

Phe

Poly

Nylon

6061

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No.
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

imide

ium

1.22

1.3

1.2

1.2

1.14

2.8

8.9

4.4

Young's
Modulus, Em
GPa

3.45

3.45

11

3.45

70

210

110

Shear
Modulus, Gm
GPa

1.28

1.28

4.07

1.11

1.28

26.12

81.40

44

Poisson's
ratio,m

0.35

0.35

0.35

0.35

0.35

0.34

0.29

0.25

Heat capacity,
CmkJ/(kgk)

1.05

0.96

1.30

1.15

1.67

0.96

0.46

0.39

Heat
conductivity,
kmW/(mk)

2.16

0.18

0.21

0.25

0.19

171

62.0

7.0

36.0

64.3

80.0

80.0

46.0

23.4

13.3

9.5

0.39

1.637

1.20

1.80

1.10

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.33

0.38

0.38

0.50

0.45

0.0

0.0

0.0

120

90

60

60

81.4

310

760

1170

210

130

200

140

60.7

310

760

1170

Thermal
expansion
coefficient,

Moisture
diffusivity,

Moisture
expansion
coefficient,m
m/m/C

10.

Al

gm/cm3

dm1013m2/s
9.

ester

Density,m

m106m/m/k
8.

nolic

Tensile
strength, Xtm
MPa

11.

Compressive
strength, Xcm
MPa

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12.

COMPOSITEMATERIALSANDSTRUCTURES

Shearstrength,
XsmMpa

90

60

80

50

66.2

180

440

675

Table4.4:Thermoelasticpropertiesofthreeunidirectionalcomposites(Vf=0.6)
S.
No

Property

Kelvar/Epoxy

T300/
Epoxy

Boron/
polyimide

Fomulae
used

1.

Density,gm/cm3

1.40

1.58

2.07

Eq.4*

2.

Longitudinalmodulus,E'11GPa

91.38

133.38

241.38

Eq.4.6*

3.

Transversemodulus,E'22GPa

4.00

8.29

14.87

Eq.7*

4.

Poisson'sratio,'12='13

0.35

0.26

0.26

Eq.4.12*

5.

Poisson'sratio,'23

0.484

0.424

0.394

Eq.9*

6.

Inplaneshearmodulus,G'12=

2.26

3.81

5.53

Eq.8a*

1.44

2.90

5.53

Eq.8b*

1.836

601.87

23.66

Eq.4.45*

0.57

0.72

6.95

Eq.11b*

1.017

0.933

5.28

Eq.15*

2.48

1.99

5.28

Eq.4.54*

61.32

2.73

1.48

Eq.13b*

G'13GPa
7.

Transverseshearmodulus,G'23
GPa

8.

Longitudinalconductivity,k'11W/
(mk)

9.

Transverseconductivity,k'22
W/(mk)

10.

Heatcapacity,ckJ/(kgk)

11.

Longitudinalthermalexpansion
coefficient,'11(x106)m/m/k

12.

Transversethermalexpansion
coefficient,'22(x106)m/m/k

*Eqs.OfTable4.1

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COMPOSITEMATERIALSANDSTRUCTURES

4.4BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. J.M. Whitney and R.L. McCromechanical Materials Modeling, Delware Composites Design
Encyclopedia,Vol.2,TechnomicPublishingCo.,Inc.,Lancaster,1990.
2. J.W. Weeton, D.M. Peters and K.L. Thomas (Eds.), Engineer's Guide to Composite Materials,
AmericanSocietyofMetals,MetalsPark,Ohio,1987.
3. G.S. Springer and S.W. Tsai, Thermal Conductivities of Unidirectional Material, J.Composotie
Materials,1,1967,166.
4.M.TayaandR.Arsenault,MetalMatrixComposite.Pergamon,Oxford,1989.
5. R.A. Schapery, Thermal Expansion Coefficient of Composite Materials Based on Energy
Principles,J.CompositeMaterials,2,1968,157.
6.R.M.Jones,MechanicsofCompositeMaterials,McGrawHillBookCompanymNewYork,1975.
7. S.W. Tsai and H.T. Hahn, Introduction to Composite Materials, Technomic Publishing co., Inc.,
Lancaster,1980.
8. B.D. Agarwal and L.J. Broutman, Analysis and Performance of Fiber Composites, Wiley
Interscience,NY,1980.
9. J.C. Halpin, Primer on Composite Materials : Analysis, Technomic Publishing Co. Inc.,
Lancaster,1984.
10.Z.Hashin,TheoryofFibreReinforcedMaterials,NASACR1974,1972.

4.5EXERCISES
(Usematerialpropertiesandformulaegiveninthischapterfornumericalresults)
1.Usingsimplerulesofmixture,deriveexpressionsforE'11,E'22,'12andG'12.
2.Foramatrixofgivenweight,whatshouldtheweightoffibressothatthefibrevolumefractionof
thecompositeis0.7i.e.,Vf=0.7.
3.Foraboron/polyimidecomposite(Vf=0.7)determinethevaluesofE'22 andG'22 usingvarious
formulaeandmakeacomparativeanalysis.
4.Foracarbon/aluminiumcomposite(Vf=0.5)determinethevaluesofE'11,E'22,'12andG'12.
5. Determine d '11 and d '22 for a carbon/epoxy composites (Vf = 0.7) and for Kevlar/epoxy
composite(Vf=0.6anddf=5dm).
6.Determinek'11andk'22foracarbonpolyimideandboron/polyimidecomposites(Vf=0.7).
7.Determine'11and'22foraboron/aluminiumcomposite(Vf=0.5).
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8.Determine'11and'22foraKevlar/epoxycomposite(Vf=0.7).Assume'f=0.5'm.

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