Q5.

(a) i) With respect to fibre-reinforced composites, define critical fibre length,

and show that it can be approximated by:
*f d
l crit ;
2 i
where, f is the fibre fracture strength; i is the average shear strength of
*

the interface and d is the fibre diameter.

[6]

ii) An aligned short fibre composite consists of 40% by volume carbon fibres
of length 3 mm and diameter 8 m, in a PEEK matrix. Given that the shear
strength of the fibre-matrix interface is 10 MN/m2, and Data from Table
Q.5:
Calculate the critical fibre length and then estimate the longitudinal tensile
strength of the composite.
[6]

(b) i) Outline the block model method for predicting the moduli for a
unidirectional fibre composite, giving the equations for the longitudinal (E1)
and transverse (E2) moduli in terms of matrix and fibre moduli and volume
factions.
(Full derivations are not necessary only give the essential steps
and assumptions)
[6]

ii) A design specification for a component stipulates an aligned short fibre

carbon/PEEK composite having a tensile modulus (E1) of at least 120
GN/m2 in the direction of fibre alignment. The maximum permissible
density for the composite is 1600 kg/m3. Using the data in Table Q.5,
determine the allowable range of fibre volume fractions that can be used to
achieve the above specification.
[7]
Table Q.5

Density / Young's Modulus Tensile Strength

Material
kg /m3 GN/ m2 MN/m2
Carbonfibre 1850 265 2800
PEEK 1320 1.1 90

Formulae *f
crit ; c V f mVm
2
*
crit ; c f V f 1 crit mVm
2 2
, crit ; c i V f mVm