Prediction of Stress Distribution Around Broken Fiber in a Unidirectional Composite

Enhanced capabilities of developed technologies thrive for extensive development on engineering limitations with material sciences as the primary generic. Advanced material sciences, developed with composite structures to invoke sectional properties relative to their applications are on a contemporary forefront. In the present study, an effort has been made to predict the stress distribution around the cluster of broken fibers in a unidirectional composite using a 3D numerical model simulated in commercial finite element software COMSOL. The carbon fiber and epoxy matrix are modeled as a linear elastic material, and the interface between fiber matrix is assumed as perfectly bonded. Stress concentration factor (SCF) is predicted around the fiber neighboring to the broken fibers in crack plane, and the obtained result is compared with the analytical results available in the literature. Further, the displacement and stress field along the fiber direction and in a plane perpendicular to the fiber are also predicted. The study widens the analysis of composite lamina structures with analysis over broken fibers to model and observe relative behavior along with the effects across a finite defined section of multiple fibers. A 3D computational linearly elastic model of the unidirectional composite lamina with perfectly bonded matrix—reinforcement is put forth for numerical simulation. Computational study on composite lamina is performed iteratively on COMSOL Multiphysics to obtain validated results. The study stands a frontline for future classification and analysis of crack propagation studies in orthotropic composites initiating and enhancing the range of applications, and contributing to technological advancement in material sciences.