Principal strain-induced fiber orientation evolution in the C _sf /Mg composites with a large deformation

In this article, the fiber orientation evolution in the C _sf /Mg composites with a large deformation is investigated. The principal strain-induced fiber orientation evolution mechanism, which states that the fiber orientation evolution in the C _sf /Mg composites with a large deformation is determined by the principal strains, is proposed. The fiber orientation distribution factors [Formula: see text] taking the form of the principal strains are proposed to quantitatively characterize the fiber orientation distribution in the C _sf /Mg composites. The fiber orientation factors [Formula: see text] predicted by the finite element simulation based on the principal strain-induced fiber orientation evolution mechanism are compared against those [Formula: see text] measured from the micrographs of the extrusion experiments of C _sf /Mg composites. The results demonstrate that the principal strain-induced fiber orientation evolution mechanism is valid and convenient to predict the fiber orientation evolution in the C _sf /Mg composites with a large deformation. In the extruded C _sf /Mg composites, the fibers are reoriented toward the direction of the maximum principal strain and deviated from the direction of the minimum principal strain.