Composite Materials

Fiber-reinforced Composite Materials

· A uniaxial fiber-reinforced lamina is the basic component of a continuous-fiber reinforced composite material. The fibers are parallel and extend from one end of the lamina to the other as shown.
· Fiber packing determines the maximum fiber volume fraction.
· Two fiber configurations are illustrated: hexagonal close packed cylinders, and a simple square array. The fiber radius, r, inter-fiber spacing, 2R, and the fiber to fiber distance, s, characterize the system.

From: Hull, "Introduction to Composite Materials," Cambridge (1992)