Interphase effects on mechanical properties of randomly distributed fiber reinforced composites subjected to off-axis loading

Establishing accurate structure–property relationships for three-phase composites is a fundamental task about a reliable design of such materials. In this study, a three-dimensional micromechanics-based analytical model is presented to evaluate the effects of interphase on the mechanical properties of three-phase fibrous composites under off-axis loading. The representative volume element of composites consists of three phases including reinforcement (long fiber), matrix and interphase which all of three phases are assumed to be isotropic and linear elastic. The state of arrangement of fiber within the matrix materials is assumed to be random with uniform distribution and fibers are surrounded by the interphase. The effects of interphase such as its thickness and stiffness on the mechanical properties of fibrous composites under off-axis loading are investigated. Moreover, the influences of fiber volume fraction with and without considering interphase on the response of composite materials are examined. By introducing a parameter which is called the interphase reinforcement ratio, the results demonstrate that the intensity of interphase effects on Young’s modulus of composites increases from 0 degree (longitudinal loading) to 90 degree (transverse loading). The obtained results by the present micromechanical model could be useful to optimal design of composite materials with superior mechanical properties.