Abstract
Fiber microbuckling, a compressive failure mechanism in unidirectional fiber-reinforced composites, was studied in a model system composed of a single polyamide fiber in a silicone matrix. The transparent matrix permitted direct observation of fiber microbuckling during compression. In all instances the shape of the microbuckling was planar and sinusoidal. The effects of fiber diameter, fiber modulus, and matrix modulus on the critical wavelength were observed. Excellent agreement with predictions from the stability analyses of Sadowsky et al. and Darby and Kanellopoulos was obtained.
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