A statistical model for the tensile fracture of parallel fiber composites is based on a stress criterion for crack propagation. The stresses in fiber which surround a crack nucleus are evaluated and the number and size of such nuclei are evaluated statistically. Failure is predicted when, statistically, a new break is expected at any crack nucleus. The predictions of this model are in good agreement with measured tensile strength, the variation of strength with size, the variability of tensile fracture srength, the very small creep strain, and the observed mechanism of fracture of fiberglass composites.
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