Numerical study on the tensile properties of a cylindrical specimen with chopped basalt fibre thermosetting resin matrix composites

For several decades, the disadvantages of traditional metallic rock and soil support structures have become increasingly prominent. As a result, it is urgent to seek lightweight, high-strength, durable and green economic substitute products made from the basalt fibre reinforced composites. Combining the two-phase material summing principle of composite material mechanics and the extension and application of Mohr–Coulomb strength criterion, the uniaxial tensile computing model of a cylindrical polymer specimen containing randomly distributed and discontinuous basalt fibres was established in accordance with the numerical simulation software Flac3D. Furthermore, the influence laws and intrinsic mechanism of the number of discrete fibres and different fibre distribution angles on the integral axial tensile properties of a cylindrical specimen with chopped basalt fibre thermosetting resin matrix composites were investigated and elucidated, and the stress–strain curve of basalt fibre thermosetting resin matrix composites were obtained. Consequently, the results have indicated that: i) the axial tensile strength of the polymer system can be enhanced through the incorporation of a moderate quantity of chopped fibres, with the resultant improvement typically not surpassing a 10% increment; ii) when the number of fibres has increased to the quantitative state, namely, the fibre density reaches 1.02 pieces/cm ³ or more, the amplification of axial tensile strength of composite material will be controlled; iii) the fibre distribution directions, are maintaining a 0° parallel state to the axial direction of the specimen and the ones of load application, will ensure that the tensile strength of the composite can be sufficiently utilized. As the production process within the composite industry have become increasingly adept, the research results hold substantial value for further promoting the development, testing and optimizing application of various types of high-performance basalt fibre reinforced composite products.