The object of this article is to study the stress distribution of particles dispersed in polymer and its effect on strength. Micro-scale finite element cracking models are formulated to study strengthening of hard particles-dispersed polymer. Two aspects are studied. First, the effect of particle aspect ratio, particle modulus and inter-particle distance on stress shielding zones around particles is investigated. Second, the effect of stress shielding zones on initiation of crack propagation is investigated.
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Zhao, Q. and Hoa, S.V. (In Press) Toughening Mechanism of Epoxy Resins with Micro/Nano Particles , Journal of Composite Materials.
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Software `FRANC2D/L' (2003). A Crack Propagation Simulator for Plane Layered Structures, made by Daniel Swenson and Mark James in Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA.
7.
Software `Interactive MSE 3.0', made by William D. Callister, Published in Software by John Wiley & Sons.
