The role of interphasial inhomogenuities on failure mechanism of fiber-reinforced composites

In the present work, a three-dimensional approach for the fiber-matrix load transfer mechanism in fibrous composites with interphasial inhomogenuities is developed. It is assumed that the interphase properties are variable in both the radial and the longitudinal direction. Imperfect adhesion is considered through introduction of appropriate discontinuities in interphasial properties in an averaged sense and assuming that the representative volume element is consisted from a definite number of homogeneous subdomains. The effect of both the degree of inhomogenuity and the quality of adhesion on the stress field developed in the composite is examined and discussed in conjunction to the failure mechanisms associated to fiber reinforced composites.