Composite Materials

· The diagram illustrates contours of equal strain at the matrix-fiber interface for a short fiber and the resulting position dependence of the tensile stress in the fiber.
· For a fiber well bonded to a matrix of lower Young's modulus, relative strain will occur between the fiber and the matrix creating a shear stress, τ, at the interface.
· If the fiber is long enough, an isostrain condition may occur at the fiber center.

From: Schaffer, et al, "The Science & Design of Engineering Materials," Irwin (1995)