Paper number 454

OBSERVATION OF FIBRE-FIBRE INTERACTIONS IN SINGLE-FIBRE MODEL SAMPLES

S. Lütze, S. Ritter, G. Busse

Zerstörungsfreie Prüfung, Institut für Kunststoffkunde und Kunststoffprüfung (IKP), Universität Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 32, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany

Summary

By combining a laser scanning microscope (LSM) with a photoelasticity setup one can investigate the stress field along the fibre-matrix boundary in a polymer composite. Using a special technique, model samples were prepared that contained single glass fibres (dF=80(m) embedded in a polycarbonate matrix. Tensile stress was applied in situ under the LSM. Phase images of isochromates (lines of equal stress) were calculated from various images taken at the same stress level. We prepared model samples with five equidistant glass fibres that were oriented parallel to the applied load direction. By variation of the distance between the fibres one obtains information on the fibre-fibre and fibre-matrix interaction. Investigations were mainly performed at fibre distances from twice up to five times the fibre diameter.

Keywords

single-fibre model composites, fibre-fibre interaction, in-situ tensile test, fibre break, shear stress behavior, laser-scanning photoelasticity.