Effect of imperfect interphase on overall average mechanical properties and local stress fields of multiphase composite materials

Abstract

The effect of an imperfect interphase on the overall average transverse mechanical properties of multiphase composite materials is investigated using a generalized self-consistent iterative method, which is developed on the basis of earlier work by the present authors. Numerical results are presented for typical composite materials with different volume fractions and characteristics of imperfect interphase. The numerical evaluation has shown that the extent and thickness of the imperfect interphase may have a significant effect on the overall average transverse plane strain bulk and shear moduli. The paper is also concerned with the evaluation of local stress fields in the imperfect interphase region.