Transverse Strain and Stress Magnification and Reduction in Fibre Reinforced Composites

This text examines the phenomenon of strain and stress magnification and reduction in the matrix and fibres, respectively, of uniaxially loaded, longitudinally aligned, continuous fibre reinforced composites. Various models are used in this study, including the method of direct deformation, assumption of the Reuss rule, use of the Halpin-Tsai semi-empirical equations, equivalence of strain energy and use of the representative volume element, in various combinations. The variations of the strain and stress magnification and reduction are examined and discussed in this text with reference to the reinforcing fibre volume fraction and also with reference to the (s/r) ratio. The various models used show the phenomenon to be significant and requiring attention in design in order to avoid unexpected failure.