A pseudo‐analytical model for the forces exerted on fibers during flow that lead to fiber damage is proposed and solved. The fundamental derivations for the forces on fibers moving in suspensions developed by Burgers (1938) were used as a comparison. The cases of the motion of a fiber along its axis and perpendicular to its axis and in shear flow at a −45 degree‐angle were investigated for aspect ratios between 10 and 300. The values for the overall forces on the fiber were in good agreement with the results found earlier by Burgers and others. However, the force distribution along the fiber was found to be significantly different from the constant distribution assumed by Burgers. Because of the higher forces on the fiber from the exact solution, the criterion for the onset of buckling in shear flow was revised. The pseudo‐analytical solution was also compared to numerical results done with the boundary element method (BEM); the results were in good agreement.

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