A micromechanical model of tension-softening and bridging toughening of short random fiber reinforced brittle matrix composites

A micromechanical model has been formulated for the post-cracking behavior of a brittle matrix composite reinforced with randomly distributed short fibers. This model incorporates the mechanics of pull-out of fibers which are inclined at an angle to the matrix crack plane and which undergo slip-weakening or slip-hardening during the pull-out process. In addition, the random location and orientation of fibers are accounted for. Comparisons of...