Strength of fiber reinforced ceramics on the basis of a micromechanical analysis (Q1322747)

A new analytical approach to the analysis of fiber reinforced brittle matrix composite is presented. The formulated model considers the failure mechanism as a formation of a crack through the matrix with intact fibers bridging the crack surfaces. The analysis accounts for a physical representation of discrete fiber distribution. The developed model is based on an implicit formulation of the exact solution to the corresponding boundary value problem. The composite strength is evaluated by relating the local stress intensity factor acting on an uncracked matrix with the remotely applied uniform stress. The growth of the internal fully bridged crack is followed from a small crack with one fiber bridging zone to an infinite number of fibers bridging the crack surfaces.