Study of Interfacial Stiffness by Using the Structural Interface Model Based on Elastic Mechanics

Abstract

The recently proposed structural interface model is a realistic model of thick interfaces, but the bars of the structure are assumed iso-stiffness. In the present work, the structural interface consisting of pairs of bars with different stiffness is developed. Based on the neutral inclusion concept and elastic mechanics, the stiffness of bars of the structural interface is studied. It is found that all the bars have the same stiffness in a special loading condition of equal-biaxial tension. The finite element simulations for glass fiber-reinforced epoxy composite reveal that the fiber does not alter the prescribed stress due to the presence of the structural interface. Compared with the iso-stiffness-bar interface, the developed structure interface is more suitable for characterizing a multi-component interface and more flexible to be designed.