Composite Materials

· The fiber arrangement in a chopped strand composite is shown in the top photograph.
· Fatigue damage (debonding and cracking) produced in such a random fiber sample is also illustrated. Light scattering by the damage makes the material translucent.
· The composite damage is highest in the waist region of the sample where the stresses are higher and decreases towards the grip locations.

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