EXPERIMENTAL-VERIFICATION OF A NEW EQUATION FOR THE YOUNG MODULUS OF COMPOSITE-MATERIALS

A recently proposed model equation for the prediction of Young's modulus of elasticity of composite materials has been compared with extensive experimental data from the literature. As the derivation of the equation assumes a definite matrix-type microstructure with spheroidal inclusions, only composites containing particulate inclusions of different geometries were considered, including data on ceramic, glass and polymer matrix composites. A quantitative good agreement between theory and experiment was found, specially when the inclusion shape and orientation, being the microstructural parameters entering in the equation, were accurately known. The microstructural parameters involved in the equation can be obtained from real microstructural data via quantitative microstructural analysis and sterology, no fitting is involved. This fact makes the proposed equation substantial also for practical applications.