Statistical properties of hybrid composites: Asymptotic distributions for strain

An adaptation of the chain-of-bundles probability model for unidirectional intraply hybrid composites is investigated by employing a lower tail asymptotic analysis. A conservative estimate for the cumulative distribution function for the hybrids' breaking strain is obtained. The method is sufficiently general and easy to implement that a large variety of different hybrid geometries are considered. Furthermore, the analysis can accommodate almost any load sharing rule, and two different rules are used to illustrate the method. Although the intent of this paper is to develop and illustrate the lower tail analysis for hybrids, some examples are also included. The well established hybrid effect for the tensile behavior of hybrids is affirmed by the analysis, and the effect is maximized by hybrids where the different types of fibers are as uniformly dispersed as possible. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Limited.