Effects of imperfect adhesion on thermal micro-residual stresses in polymer matrix composites

This paper investigates the influences of imperfect bonding between the fiber and matrix on thermal micro-residual stress fields in polymer matrix composites. For this purpose, a representative volume element consisting of a three-phase composite material subjected to a uniform temperature change is considered. Based on the energy method, a three-dimensional closed-form solution for micro-residual stresses is obtained. Besides, a finite element model is developed and the results are compared with the analytical solution. Both the energy method and finite element analysis show similar trend for thermal stress distribution along the fiber length, while due to the stress singularity, the interfacial shear stress from the finite element solution cannot satisfy the stress-free condition at the fiber end. The analysis shows that the magnitude of thermal stresses and their distribution mainly depend on the bonding efficiency parameter. An increase in thermal and elastic properties bonding efficiencies leads to a considerable decrease in composite axial and shear residual stresses, while the Poisson's ratio bonding efficiency does not affect the thermal stress fields. The interfacial radial residual stress distribution is approximately independent of the bonding conditions. Inefficient bonding may result in higher residual stresses in comparison with the perfect bonding condition. It means that in cases of low bonding efficiency conditions, the ability of composites to sustain and transmit load decreases drastically. Thermal stress concentration occurs at the vicinity of the fiber ends, although peak values depend on the bonding efficiency value. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.