A Sequential Fiber Failure Criterion for the Tensile Fracture in Notched Fiber Reinforced Composites

A new criterion, which is named a sequential fiber failure criterion for the tensile fracture in notched fiber reinforced composite plates, is developed based on the combined micromechanical sequential fiber failure condition and the macroscopic Yeh-Stratton failure criterion. Since the sequential fiber failure behavior is considered, therefore, the failure mechanisms are included in this sequential fiber failure criterion. The fracture angle and damage zone can also be evaluated from this criterion. The fracture stresses predicted by the sequential fiber failure criterion are close to those stresses measured experimentally. The tensile failure of a laminate is governed by the failure of the plies having fibers parallel to the loading direction. These fibers fail sequentially by a process in which the failure of the fiber causes its neighbor to fail. Under the uniaxial tensile load, the fracture planes of all the plies are perpendicular to the tensile loading direction within the [90°/0°/±45°] _s laminates containing a center crack.