1. Micromechanics
Macromechanics
Fibers
Lamina
Laminate
Structure
Matrix

2. Micromechanics
The analysis of relationships between effective composite properties (i.e., stiffness, strength) and the material properties, relative volume contents, and geometric arrangement of the constituent materials.

3. Micromechanics - Stiffness
Mechanics of materials models –
Simplifying assumptions make it unnecessary to specify details of stress and strain distribution – fiber packing geometry is arbitrary. Use average stresses and strains.

4. Micromechanics - Stiffness
Theory of elasticity models -
“Actual” stress and strain distributions are used – fiber packing geometry taken into account.
Closed form solutions
Numerical solutions such as finite element
Variational methods (bounds)

5. Volume Fractions fiber volume fraction matrix volume fraction
void volume fraction
Where
(3.2)
composite volume

6. Weight Fractions fiber weight fraction matrix weight fraction Where
composite weight
Note: weight of voids neglected

7. Densities
density
(3.6)
“Rule of Mixtures” for density

8. Eq. (3.2) can be rearranged as
Alternatively,
(3.8)
Eq. (3.2) can be rearranged as
(3.9)

9. Above formula is useful for void fraction estimation from measured weights and densities.
Typical void fractions:
Autoclaved cured composite: 0.1% - 1%
Press cured w/o vacuum: 2 - 5%

10. Measurements typically involve weight fractions,
which are related to volume fractions by
(3.10)
and
(3.12)

11. Representative area elements for idealized square and triangular fiber packing geometries.
Square array
Triangular array

12. Fiber volume fraction – packing geometry relationships
Square array:
(3.14)
When s=d,
(3.15)

13. Fiber volume fraction – packing geometry relationships
Triangular Array:
(3.16)
When s=d,
(3.17)

14. Fiber volume fraction – packing geometry relationships
Real composites:
Random fiber packing array
Unidirectional:
Chopped:
Filament wound: close to theoretical

15. Photomicrograph of carbon/epoxy composite showing actual fiber packing geometry at 400X magnification

16. Voronoi cell and its approximation. (From Yang, H. and Colton,
J.S Polymer Composites, 51, 34–41. With permission.)
Random nature of fiber packing geometry in real composites can be
quantified by the use of the Voronoi cell. Each point within the space
of a Voronoi cell for a particular fiber is closer to the center of that fiber
than it is to the center of any other fiber s
Voronoi cells
Equivalent square
cells, with Voronoi
cell size, s

17. Typical histogram of Voronoi distances and corresponding Wiebull distribution for
a thermoplastic matrix composite. (From Yang, H. and Colton, J.S Polymer
Composites, 51, 34–41. With permission.)

18. Elementary Mechanics of Materials Models for Effective Moduli
Fiber packing array not specified – RVE consists of fiber and matrix blocks.
Improved mechanics of materials models and elasticity models do take into account fiber packing arrays.

19. Assumptions:
Area fractions = volume fractions
Perfect bonding at fiber/matrix interface – no slip
Matrix is isotropic, fiber can be orthotropic
Fiber and matrix linear elastic
Lamina is macroscopically homogeneous, linear elastic and orthotropic

20. Concept of an Effective Modulus of an Equivalent Homogeneous Material.
Heterogeneous composite under varying stresses and strains
Stress,
Strain,
Equivalent homogeneous material under average stresses and strains
Stress
Strain

21. Representative volume element and simple stress states used in elementary mechanics of materials models

22. Representative volume element and simple stress states used in elementary mechanics of materials models
Longitudinal normal stress
Transverse normal stress
In-plane shear stress

23. Average stress over RVE:
(3.19)
Average strain over RVE:
(3.20)
Average displacement over RVE:
(3.21)

24. Longitudinal Modulus
RVE under average stress governed by longitudinal modulus E1.
Equilibrium:
Note: fibers are often orthotropic.
Rearranging, we get “Rule of Mixtures” for longitudinal stress
(3.22)
Static Equilibrium
(3.23)

25. Hooke’s law for composite, fiber and matrix
Stress – strain Relations
(3.24)
So that:
(3.25)

26. Assumption about average strains:
Geometric Compatibility
(3.26)
Which means that,
(3.27)
“Rule of Mixtures” – generally quite accurate – useful for design calculations

27. Variation of composite moduli with fiber volume fraction
Eq. 3.27
Eq. 3.40
Predicted E1 and E2 from elementary mechanics of materials models

28. Variation of composite moduli with fiber volume fraction
Comparison of predicted and measured E1 for E-glass/polyester. (From Adams, R.D., Engineered Materials Handbook, Vol. 1, Composites, 206–217.)

29. Strain Energy Approach
(3.28)
Where strain energy in composite, fiber and matrix are given by,
(3.29a)
(3.29b)
(3.29c)

30. Subst. in “Rule of Mixtures” for longitudinal stress:
Strain energy due to Poisson strain mismatch at fiber/matrix interface is neglected.
Let the stresses in fiber and matrix be defined in terms of the composite stress as:
(3.30)
Subst. in “Rule of Mixtures” for longitudinal stress:
(3.23)

31. Combining (3.30), (3.24) & (3.29) in (3.28),Or
(3.31)
Combining (3.30), (3.24) & (3.29) in (3.28),
(3.32)
Solving (3.31) and (3.32) simultaneously for E-glass/epoxy with known properties:
Find a1 and b1, then

33. Transverse Modulus RVE under average stress
Response governed by transverse modulus E2
Geometric compatibility:
From definition of normal strain,
(3.34)
(3.35)

34. 1-D Hooke’s laws for transverse loading:
Thus, Eq.(3.34) becomes
(3.36) Or
(3.37)
Where
1-D Hooke’s laws for transverse loading:
(3.38)

35. Where Poisson strains have been neglected. Combining (3. 37) and (3
(3.39)
Assuming that
We get
(3.40)

36. - “Inverse Rule of Mixtures” – Not very accurate
- Strain energy approach for transverse loading, Assume,
(3.41)
Substituting in the compatibility equation (Rule of mixture for transverse strain), we get
(3.42)

37. Then substituting these expressions for and in
(3.28)
We get
(3.43)
Solving (3.42) and (3.43) simultaneously for a2 and b2, we get for E-glass/epoxy,

39. In-Plane Shear Modulus, G12
Using compatibility of shear displacement and assuming equal stresses in fiber and matrix:
(Not very accurate)
(3.47)
Major Poisson’s Ratio, υ12
Using compatibility in 1 and 2 directions:
(Good enough for design use)
(3.45)

40. Design Equations
Elementary mechanics of materials Equations derived for G12 and E2 are not very useful – need to develop improved models for G12 and E2.

41. Improved Mechanics of Materials Models for E2 and G12
Mechanics of materials models refined by assuming a specific fiber packing array.
Example: Hopkins – Chamis method of sub-regions
RVE

42. Convert RVE with circular fiber to equivalent RVE having square fiber whose area is the same as the circular fiber.
RVE
Sub Region A A sf A
Sub Region B d s B sf B A
Sub Region A A
Division of representative volume element into sub regions based on square fiber having equivalent fiber volume fraction.

43. Equivalent Square Fiber:
(from )
(3.48)
Size of RVE:
(3.49)
For Sub Region B: s sf

44. Following the procedure for the elementary mechanics of materials analysis of transverse modulus:
(3.50)
but
(3.51)
So that
(3.52)

45. For sub regions A and B in parallel,
(3.53)
Or finally
(3.54)
Similarly,

46. Simplified Micromechanics Equations (Chamis)
Only used part of the analysis for sub region B in Eq. (3.52):
(3.52)
Fiber properties Ef2 and Gf12 in tables inferred from these equations.

49. Semi empirical Models
Use empirical equations which have a theoretical basis in mechanics
Halpin-Tsai Equations
(3.63)
Where
(3.64)

50. And curve-fitting parameter
2 for E2 of square array of circular fibers
1 for G12
As Rule of Mixtures
As Inverse Rule of Mixtures

51. Tsai-Hahn Stress Partitioning Parameters
let
(3.65)
Get
(3.66)
Where stress partitioning parameter
(when get inverse Rule of Mixtures)

52. Transverse modulus for glass/epoxy according to Tsai-Hahn equation (Eq
Transverse modulus for glass/epoxy according to Tsai-Hahn equation (Eq. 3.66). (From Tsai, S.W. and Hahn, H.T Introduction to Composite Materials. Technomic Publishing Co., Lancaster, PA. With permission from Technomic Publishing Co.)
Eq. 3.66

53. Micromechanical Analysis of Composite Materials Using Elasticity Theory
Micromechanical analysis of composite materials involve the development of analytical models for predicting macroscopic composite properties in terms of constituent material properties and information on geometry and loading. Analysis begins with the selection of a representative volume element, or RVE, which depends on the assumed fiber packing array in the composite.

54. Example: Square packing array
RVE
Matrix
Fiber
Due to double symmetry, we only need to consider one quadrant of RVE
Matrix
Fiber

55. The RVE is then subjected to uniform stress or displacement along the boundary. The resulting boundary value problem is solved by either stress functions, finite differences or finite elements.
Later in this course we will discuss specific examples of finite difference solutions and finite element solutions for micromechanics problems.