A NONCLASSICAL MODEL FOR THE STRESSES IN 3-D CONTINUOUS FIBER-REINFORCED COMPOSITE-MATERIALS

A nonclassical continuum mechanics model is developed for a unidirectional continuous fiber-reinforced composite under elastic deformation to determine separate stress field expressions for each material in the body. Far-field strain components, measured or calculated by classical methods, are considered as known inputs. By an elasticity analysis the interactions between the adjacent material regions are found. By using a method similar to the nonlocal continuum mechanics theory all the long-range interactions are expressed as heterogeneity effects. By summing the stresses calculated from the far-field strains and the stresses caused by the heterogeneity effects, the stress fields in the different materials of the composite body are determined. Sample results are compared to those of a classical anisotropic elasticity method. © 1990.