Computational models for fibre-reinforced composites

Composite materials reinforced by short fibres are considered to be the materials of the future because of their excellent electro-thermo-mechanical properties, when the fibres have much higher stiffness and thermal and electric conductivity than the matrix. Usually the aspect ratio of fibres is very high. The classical numerical methods cannot accurately simulate the interaction of fibre-fibre-matrix for complicated topology of such materials. The current paper presents a method that enables such problems to be solved efficiently and accurately for an elastic matrix with such inclusions. The method uses one-dimensional continuously distributed source functions (forces, dipoles and couples) along the fibre axis to simulate interaction of the fibre with matrix and neighbour fibres. Numerical results indicate the importance of the topology of reinforcing fibres (i.e. if the fibres are straight, imperfect straight or curved; if they are unidirectional; how they are distributed in the matrix) for the overall effect in the composite. Numerical results of the method are discussed.