Composite Materials

· Transverse loading of a composite causes matrix stress concentrations between the more rigid fibers, with the maximum stress occurring for θ = 90⁰ at a radius ~ 1.2 r .
· The photoelastic micrograph shows contours of equal stress value. Crowding of these contours identifies regions with a high stress gradient.
· The stress distribution is complex and position dependent, it may be multi-axial, and its values depend on the matrix and fiber elastic properties.

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