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Mechanics of hybrid polymer composites: analytical and computational study

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Abstract

Three different models with increased complexity to study the effects of hybridization on the tensile failure of hybrid composites are proposed. The first model is a model for dry bundles of fibres based on the statistics of fibre strength. The second is a model for composite materials based on the multiple fragmentation phenomenon. Lastly, a micromechanical numerical model is developed that considers a random distribution of fibres and takes into account the stochastic nature of fibre strength. This study aims to understand the controlling factors that lead to pseudo-ductility, as well as establish the sequence of failure mechanisms in hybrid composites under tensile loadings.

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Acknowledgments

The first and last authors would like to acknowledge the support from FCT and LAETA under the Project UID/EMS/50022/2013. M.A. Bessa and W.K. Liu would like to acknowledge the support through a subcontract from the Ford Motor Company with funding from the U.S. Department of Energys Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), under Award Number DE-EE0006867, as well as the support by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research under the Award Number FA9550-14-1-0032.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. DEMec, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal

    Rodrigo P. Tavares & Pedro P. Camanho

  2. INEGI, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 400, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal

    Rodrigo P. Tavares & Pedro P. Camanho

  3. Advanced Composites Centre for Science and Innovation (ACCIS), University of Bristol, Queen’s Building, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TR, UK

    António R. Melro

  4. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Rd., Evanston, IL, 60201, USA

    Miguel A. Bessa & Wing K. Liu

  5. AMADE, Polytechnic School, University of Girona, Campus Montilivi s/n, 17071, Girona, Spain

    Albert Turon

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  1. Rodrigo P. Tavares
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  2. António R. Melro
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  3. Miguel A. Bessa
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  4. Albert Turon
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  5. Wing K. Liu
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  6. Pedro P. Camanho
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Correspondence to Pedro P. Camanho.

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Tavares, R.P., Melro, A.R., Bessa, M.A. et al. Mechanics of hybrid polymer composites: analytical and computational study. Comput Mech 57, 405–421 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00466-015-1252-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00466-015-1252-0

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