Modelling of polypropylene fibre-matrix composites using finite element analysis

Abstract

Abstract. Polypropylene (PP) fibre-matrix composites previously prepared and studied experimentally were modelled using finite element analysis (FEA) in this work. FEA confirmed that fibre content and composition controlled stress distribution in all-PP composites. The stress concentration at the fibre-matrix interface became greater with less fibre content. Variations in fibre composition were more significant in higher stress regions of the composites. When fibre modulus increased, the stress concentration at the fibres decreased and the shear stress at the fibre-matrix interface became more intense. The ratio between matrix modulus and fibre modulus was important, as was the interfacial stress in reducing premature interfacial failure and increasing mechanical properties. The model demonstrated that with low fibre concentration, there were insufficient fibres to distribute the applied stress. Under these conditions the matrix yielded when the applied stress reached the matrix yield stress, resulting in increased fibre axial stress. When the fibre content was high, there was matrix depletion and stress transfer was inefficient. The predictions of the FEA model were consistent with experimental and published data.

Single-polymer composites (SPCs): Status and future trends

“…Joining of SPCs via various methods is a great challenge [154]. Describing the infiltration of the molten resin into the reinforcing structure [163]and modeling of the structure-property relationships in SPCs are further important tasks [164] …”

Micromechanical Investigation of Elastic Properties for Polypropylene Fiber-Matrix Composite

“…5]; [4] For largest fiber volume fraction calculations, nearly constant the Poisson ratio value ν 23 was obtained [ Fig. 5], [5] With fiber volume fraction V f [%] increase, decreasing stress concentration in the fiber-matrix interface was detected [ Fig. 7e].…”

“…In other two studies, stress transfer mechanism from matrix to fiber material by shear stresses was examined in detail by using Cox theory [3,4]. Houshyar et al [5] performed the polypropylene fibermatrix composite modeling by using FE analysis (FEA). According to this study, the ratios of matrix to fiber modulus as well as the interfacial stress in reducing first stage of the interfacial failure and increasing equivalent mechanical properties have been found significant.…”

A specific finite element procedure for the analysis of elastic behaviour of short fibre reinforced composites. The Projected Fibre approach

“….) [18,19], but rarely for materials with randomly distributed short fibres. Recently, Cunha et al [20] proposed a numerical approach to simulate the crack behaviour of steel fibre reinforced composites (SFRC), using 3D discrete embedded elements for fibres representation.…”