Initiation and propagation of fiber kinking from fiber undulation in a unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced plastic

Micromechanical two-dimensional finite element analyses were performed on the axial compression of a unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced plastic. The initiation and propagation of fiber kinking were studied using fiber undulation models, in which the fiber angles followed a normal distribution. Matrix yielding was initiated at different locations with an increase in the compressive load. The yielded area spread in the direction that was...