Abstract:
In order to predict the strength of a composite only based on the mechanical properties of its constituent fiber and matrix materials measured independently, 3 challenging problems must be resolved with high success rate. First, internal stresses in the fiber and matrix must be accurately evaluated. Second, efficient failure detection of the composite in terms of the internal stresses, i.e., the micromechanical strength theory, must be achieved. Last but not the least, the input data of in-situ strengths of the matrix, which can hardly be measured through experiments, must be correctly determined according to its original counterparts available independently. Each of these problems is by no means easy to deal with. This is why the prediction of composite strength is extremely difficult. The bridging model, originally established by HUANG Zheng-ming and further developed to a powerful theory, presents a systematic approach towards solving all of the 3 problems. This paper briefly summarizes the theory by focusing on some of the latest advancements. A number of further research topics are also highlighted in the paper.
