The Effect of the Arrangement of a Reinforcement on the Mechanical Behavior of a Composite VER Composite Material

Abstract

Composites, like any material, can degrade under the action of the loading applied to them bycausing mechanical degradation of the composite parts (cracking). The study of existing damage and itsbehavior is of great importance. In fact, the cracking resulting from the propagation of a defect can lead to thefailure of a component that would promote the total ruin of the structure. Fracture mechanics is the right tool toanalyze this kind of situation based on the material's fracture characteristics which are the critical stress intensityfactor (KC) or the critical energy restitution rate (GC) also called toughness. This degradation of the compositehas been studied by many authors. The objective of our work is to analyze by the finite element method theevolution of the parameter KI stress intensity factor of two representative elementary volumes (REV) made ofthe same epoxy matrix and with different reinforcing fibers (Alfa and Glass) as a function of the displacement ofthe two fibers (a) and (b). The numerical study showed that the position of the fibers has a significant role on thecomposite material as well as the alfa/epoxy REV behaves better than the glass/epoxy REV due to the goodmechanical characteristics of the alfa/epoxy REV.