Stress Concentration Prediction at a Fracture Site in Composite Bimaterial Plates under Axial Load

Abstract

The stress concentration factor at a fracture site in axially tensioned composite plates with unidirectional, high modulus reinforcing cords, may be predicted from a load sharing model that approximates the lateral decay of cord strain. The model has been tested for six embedded members in a rubber matrix against accurate mechanical strain analysis, but for systems with up to 100 cords there is a need to use a less tedious predictive tool. The paper describes a model that has been developed for this purpose.