Simulation of ultimate strength of fiber-Reinforced composites by means of bridging micromechanics model

Bridging model is a well-developed micromechanical theory, which can be used to predict mechanical behaviors particularly strengths of laminated composites based on the properties of constituent fiber and resin materials. Internal stresses generated in the fibers and resin of a laminate are explicitly correlated with externally applied stresses on the laminate. Thermal residual stresses due to un-match between thermal expansion coefficients of the fibers and the resin are obtained rigorously. In this chapter, the bridging model development incorporated with updated theory is presented. Computer routine together with input data examples for the First Would Wide Failure Exercise (WWFE-I) problems is given in the appendixes of the chapter.