Short Fibers

Composite materials
Csar Ivn Garca Hernndez
Grupo: Mircoles
Centro de Investigacin e Innovacin en Ingeniera Aeronutica
Facultad de Ingeniera Mecnica y Elctrica
Universidad Autnoma de Nuevo Len
Abstract Deduction of equations for short fibers

I.

For this system we can consider also the shear force acting in
the same direction as the strength. For the second force
reacting to the strength force we have the same force plus a
differential of this load.

INTRODUCTION

It was analyzed at different times the behavior with short

fibers, as the effort bearing, the modulus of elasticity of the
compound; these analyzes have been carried out taking into
account a long fiber, taking into account a characteristic length.
But, in addition, there are other types of fibers having different
behaviors, such as short fibers. Short despite having very good
characteristics for different applications should be of a high
degree of difficulty involved in the arrangement of such a
system, so they tend to be less used to comparison of systems
or composites with long fibers. This document includes the
analysis and comparison that exists in these fibers taking into
account its length and orientation
II.

DISCONTINUOUS AND ALIGNED FIBERS

A. Longitudinal Strength (l>lc)

cd = f V f 1

lc
+ m ( 1V f )
2l

F1= f (

D2
)
4

(2)

[ f +d f ](

D2
)
4

(3)

F2=
F3 =Ddx

(4)

Where D is the diameter of the fiber.

Making a summary for these force we have that:

(1)

To know why the factor of the strength of the fiber are

multiplying some kind of factor is necessary to develop an
analysis for this type of fiber.
At first we have a physic diagram for the behavior of loads in
the composite.

F1 + F 3=F 2
(5)
Solving

D2
[ f +d f ]
=Ddx
4

( )
D
(
+
4 )

(6)

Simplifying for the differential of the strength we have

d f =

4
dx
D

(7)
Fig. 1 Half of a discontinuous fiber

To obtain the equation for the strength is necessary to integrate

the eq. 7

lc
)
2l

1 /2

d f=

4
dx
D x

(8)

Since, the maximum value we are analyzing is the half

of the fiber, we consider as the upper value and an
unknown value for lower value, thus

f=

4 1
( x )
D 2

(9)

f med = f (1

(11)

The equation (11) can represent the medium strength for a

discontinuous fiber when the length is superior to the critical
length. Since there are a relationship between the length and
the critical length, we can assume that (1-lc/2l) are acting in as
a coefficient factor for this type of configuration.
Considering

The eq. 9 is a general equation for the strength of the fiber, but
there are some cases that are necessary to have in mind.
One of these cases is when l>lc.

cd = f V f + m ( 1V f )

(12)

Substituting the equation (11) on equation (12), we have:

cd = f V f 1

lc
+ m ( 1V f )
2l

(1)

Knowing that Vm + Vf =1
B. Longitudinal Strength (l<lc)
Following the same procedure for the case before, and
considering.

Fig. 2 l > lc
The past graph show the behavior of the strength and the
maximum strength for that characteristics of the length of
fiber. We can take some important points from that graph. One
important thing is to notice how the maximum load affect all
the fiber; the maximum strength can be supported in a big part
of the fiber.

f=

4 1
x
D 2

( )

(9)

First, we have a different behavior in this case.

Consider the behavior of the fiber shown on the graph we have

2 different conditions.

(1) 1/2 lc
(2) l-lc
These two assumptions can be assumed since the the
maximum strength are acting in the half of the fiber (case 2)
and the other (1) are the ramp shown on the graph that are
associated with the half of the critical length.
To obtain the medium strength for the fiber is necessary to
multiply the area on the curve strength-length of fiber and
divide for the length of fiber.

We have

1
f ( ll c ) + f ( l c )
2
f=
l
Simplifying

Fig. 3 When l < lc

For this case we notice that even the fiber doesnt reach the
maximum strength to get fail, so, the maximum stress can be
assumed at the center of the fiber (x=0).
Know substituting this value in equation (9), we have

(10)

f=

4 1
0
D 2

Solving

( )

 f=

2
D

(13)

Now, applying the same procedure to know the medium

strength we obtain

1 l2
2 D
f=
l
f=

l
D

(14)

Since the strength doesnt affect in direct wave the failure of

the fiber, the only factor that affect the fiber are the shear
stress acting between the fiber and matrix.

As the fig (4) the type of orientation are going to define the
type of the behavior on the composite affecting the efficiency
of the fiber.

Substituting this value on equation (12).

cd =

l
V f + m ( 1V f )
D

Fig. 4 Different types of orientation and values

(15)

Considering

Ecl =Ef V f + Em V m
III.

As we know, the factor of efficiency (Krenchel) affects

directly to the efficiency on stiffness of the fiber, we obtain

FIBER

A correction factor to allow for the loss of efficiency if fibres

are not perfectly aligned in the load direction was given by
Krenchel.
180

(18)

DISCONTINUOUS AND RANDOMLY ORIENTED

o = V f cos
4

(16)

i=0

Simplifying the eq. (16)

Ecl =KE f V f + E m V m
(19)
This value are going to depend only in the type of
configuration of the fiber and how these fibers are oriented
plus the fraction of the total fibers.
Next, we have some values for the factor.

o = ai cos 4

(17)

Where ai represents the fiber proportion, represents the angle

between the fibers and the load acting on the composite.

Fig. 5 Values for orientation efficiency

CONCLUSION
It can be concluded that the behavior of the fibers will
depend almost solely on the length you have, this will give
different properties, besides the difficulty of analysis for each
of them; It is not possible to define equations that arrangement

could be the most ideal, as this is defined for each purpose or

scope you want to be designated.
Whereas account of the arrangement, the compound
likewise take certain properties due to the orientation of the
fibers him because as seen in the document, the fall of the
elastic modulus is defined by the type of arrangement made.

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REFERENCES

Richard K. Cullen, Mary Margaret Singh, and John Summerscales,

Characterisation of Natural Fibre Reinforcements and
Composites,Journal of Composites,vol.2013,ArticleID416501,
4pages,2013.doi:10.1155/2013/416501 .
Miettinen, Arttu; Joffe, Roberts; Madsen, Bo; Nttinen, Kalle; Nttinen,
Kalle, Quantitative analysis of length-diameter distribution and crosssectional properties of fibers from three-dimensional tomographic
images , 2013.
Bryan Harris, Engineering composite materials, The institute of
Materials, london. 1999.
Materiales polimericos y compuestos,, Universidad de Oviedo.

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