Creep of Discontinuous Fibre Composites. II.

Theory for the Steady-State

Author(s): A. Kelly and K. N. Street
Source: Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series A, Mathematical and Physical
Sciences, Vol. 328, No. 1573 (May 23, 1972), pp. 283-293
Published by: The Royal Society
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/78149
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Proc. R. Soc. Lond. A. 328, 283-293 (1972)
Printed in Great Britain

Creep of discontinuous fibre composites

II. Theory for the steady-statet

BY A. KELLY AND K. N. STREETS

National Physical Laboratory,Teddinyton,Middlesex

(Communicatedby P. B. Hirsch, F.R.S. - Recei'ved18 November1971)

A simple theory is developed to explain the results of paper I, for the steady-state creep of a
fibre composite containing alined discontinuous fibres. Rigid and creeping fibres are con-
sidered and also the effect of sliding at the interface. The physical basis of the theory is that
due to the presence of the fibres the rate of shearing of the matrix is increased. An assump-
tion is made that this increase is inversely proportional to the fibre separation. It is shown
that the assumption is not critical for large values of the exponent relating strain rate and
stress of the matrix. The theory accounts for the experimental results in paper I, predicts
how the strain rate sensitivity of the composite will depend on those of fibre and matrix
and reduces to a known form for a Newtonian fluid.

1. INTRODUCTION

At present, there does not exist a theory for the steady-state creep deformation of
a composite containing axially alined discontinuous fibres which takes into account
creep of the matrix, of the fibre and deformation or sliding at the interface. In this
paper, we deve:lop a straightforward theory and in conjunction with the last paper
test it against experiment in an attempt to elucidate the importance of some of the
parameters which we know from paper I control composite behaviour during
creep.

2. INITIAL ASSUMPTIONS

Our theory i.s based on present understanding of the tensile behaviour of dis-
continuous fibre composites with a plastically deforming matrix (Kelly & Tyson
I965). If some form of bonding or frictional force arises between the matrix and
the more rigid fibres, then the extension (creep) of the former must be opposed in
the vicinity at least, of the fibre matrix interface. This opposition produces an in-
creased shear of the matrix and hence a shearing force, which we calculate and use to
determine the load supported by the fibres.
The composite we consider contains only alined fibres, which are rods of constant
diameter d and length I which are randomly distributed in the direction of their axes.
The applied composite stress is static and parallel to the fibres. Load transfer to the
fibres via direct stresses across their ends is assumed to be negligible; this implies
l/d cannot be too small.

t Part I is the preceding paper in this volume.

I Now at flcole National Superieur des Mines de Paris, Centre des Materiaux, Corbeil-
Essonne, France.
[ 283 ] I8-2
 284 A. Kelly and K. N. Street
We initially consider the situation far from the fibre ends, and suppose the matrix
to be flowing at a constant tensile creep rate ?mpast rigid fibres. This flow produces
an axial velocity qrn of a point in the matrix distance h from the fibre surface
(figure 1). Since the fibres are rigid the axial velocity of a point at the interface vi will
be less than ium. This difference in velocity we suppose to shear the matrix at an
average rate between these two points of z.

7z=( th) N m-qil), )

where z denotes the axial direction and is measured from the centre of a long fibre.
This shear strain rate represents the increase in rate of shearing due to the presence
of the fibres.

matrix

fibre

1. Section of composite parallel to fibre axis showing the displacements during a time
FIGunriE
interval of a point in the matrix at a distance h from the interface Sum, a point at the
interface Su,; and a point in the fibre 5uf.

The quantity 'i~ has components ur from a fibre velocity due to fibre creep and
iUSfrom a sliding velocity of the interface along the fibre surface. These two con-
tributions, as shown in figure 1 give
uj = 1f+ ?s. (2)
For the matrix, we can write simply

Urmemz. (3)
Ufwill in general be a characteristic of a specific fibre, depending on both stress
and temperature. We assume that

Us =Y(urm-l). (4)
That is, ?S is directly proportional to the velocity difference between points in fibre
and matrix, an assumption which is consistent with a driving force for sliding which
depends on the different extensions of fibre and of matrix. Depending on whether
the bond is perfect or non-existent, we take the sliding factor to possess values
O < ' < 1.
Combining (1), (3) and (4), we write

W n si(1docr) [sy m,-ndi -d t(o tm -vefl (5)

WhenLno sliding occurs, =-0, and y is due to the velocity difference(%m - qf) only.
 Creep of discontinuous fibre composites. II 285
This difference is a maximum when f= 0 but it is reduced both by an extending
-fibreand/or a slipping bond when y has a value > 0.
It is well established empirically (see, for example, Finnie & Heller I959; Lubahn
& Felgar I96I ) that tensile creep of a'metallic matrix can be described by an expres-
sion of the formt (6)
O'm-?mO(emlemo)llnm

To find the shear stress dependence on shear strain rate we set 0m = 2' and
gm (because the volume is conserved during flow) to obtain

= Umo(2T/o'mO)m_ (7)
We now wish to substitute for y in (7) an expression such as (5) and hence obtain
a value for , i.e. the shear stress in the matrix close to the fibre. This shear stress
arises because for a given axial velocity of the matrix given by (3) the strain shear
rate of the matrix close to a fibre is greatly increased because points at the interface
are moving relatively much slower or not moving at all (if the fibre is rigid). To pro-
ceed further we need an expression for h. h will clearly be smaller, and hence the rate
of shear larger, the more densely the fibres are packed. We hence expect h to be pro-
portional to the surface to surface separation of adjacent fibres. This separation will
vary around the circumference of the fibres. In an attempt to average, and because
we are considering fibres with large values of l/d, we shall set h equal to one half the
minimum spacing between the surfaces of fibres packed in a hexagonal array. Doing
this we have h 'td[{(2;43f-r)(Vf)}-1 - 1].
- (8)

This assumption makes the increase in the rate of shearing of the matrix due to
the presence of the fibres proportional to V4. Although this approximation for h
is crude, it will be shown later that in explaining the results in I the assumption of a
value for h is not critical.
Combining (5), (6), (7) and (8), we obtain an expression for the shearing stress
acting on the fibre surface at any z,

T = flr Vm Z - f - Uf)]llm, (9)

with /3 = 2 (3) [( /V1)-1 i . (9a)

We note that provided Vfis greater than a few hundredths, and m is larger than a
small integer the term in square brackets in /3' varies very slowly with Vfand so our
assumption concerning the value of h is not at all critical under these conditions. The
expression (9) will now be used to calculate the characteristics of the following com-
posites: (i) rigid fibres with a perfect bond in ? 3.1, (ii) creeping fibres with a perfect
bond in ? 3.2, and (iii) rigid fibres, imperfectly bonded, ? 4.
t Because it is mathematicallysimple, we shall also use this expressionfor the behaviour
of the pure matrix. However,the basic proceduresof the theory which followscan be applied
to any form of expressionfor the stress dependenceof the creep rate in the steady state.
I8-3
 286 A. Kelly and K. N. Street

3. COMPOSITES WITH NO SLIDING AT THE INTERFACE

3.1. Rigid fibres, perfect bond
When both if and y are zero (9) yields,
Ir= fl'omo(6m/emo)llm
(zld)llm. (I 0)
The distribution of T over the fibre length is shown in figure 2, where for illustration
we have set 'TomO(Qm/emo)l/m = 1. r is greater than zero over the entire length of the
fibre and rises to a maximum value (at the fibre end) which is dependent on the
stress sensitivity exponent m of the matrix. For values of m greater than about 4,
r is approximately constant along the fibre.

1.6-

1.2-
140.7

T 4t 0
0.8- \

2 0.44
3 0.4- O40
4
0~~~~~~~~~~~~~~01
0 4 8 0 4 8 12
z/d m
FIGURE 2. The shear stress profiles FIGURE 3. The load transfer para-
along one half of a fibre length for meter 0 as a function of m for
various stress sensitivities m. various V,.

The stress distribution in the fibre can be calculated by integrating over the fibre
length r mo / /r d)
o4r= -fTdzz=4i8() z ((1)/r

The stress increases from zero at the fibre end, where z/d 1/2d, to a maximum
value at the centre of the fibre (see figure 5, full lines). From (11), the average stress is

(Jf o= l Tddz = (lo)(m+) (.)1/ (12)

where (2)lim(n) [V ) J' (12a)

We can call 'p the load transfer parameter as it determines the absolute magnitude
of the average stress. The variation of 'p with m for various volume fractions is
shown in figure 3. For small 1f < 0.05, and small l/d the present theory could be very
 Creep of discontinuous fibre composites. II 287
inaccurate since under these conditions our assumption of the value for h becomes
critical.
We have calculated the average stress in the fibre from (12). We now add to this
the stress necessary to produce a rate of flow of Em in the matrix in the absence of the
fibres. This is given by (6). We can now determine the composite strength cc for a
constant creep rate, as = _Yf +f Om(1 -Vf)
fVc (13)

and so substituting from (12) and (7)

?>c = ?mO (&n) [M()+ Vf+) (1-V)]. (14)

We now have an expression which describes the steady-state creep rate of a matrix
containing rigid inclusions in terms of the fibre geometry and content and the
basic creep behaviour of the unreinforced matrix. At zero Vf, (14) degenerates to the
behaviour of the unreinforced matrix as it should. Before considering further
development, we shall obtain a solution for the case of creeping fibres.

3.2. Creeping fibres, perfect bond

When the fibre stress exceeds some value, which is certainly temperature depen-
dent, creep will take place in the central portion of the fibre. Within a composite,
the fibre creep rate 6f cannot surpass that of the surrounding matrix (unless we allow
the reversal of the roles played by fibre and matrix). The model we assume is shown
in figure 4. In the centre, z < zc, we have &f= Em and near the fibre ends, z > Zc
0f= O. Thus, we neglect any creep rate transient in the fibre up to the point where
Cf = Em. It is clear that if the stress sensitivity of fibre creep rate is relatively large,
n > 4, such a transient would be very steep, and so for fibres at low homologous
temperatures, this approximation is likely to be a good one.
If 6f < Em everywhere, the fibres are assumed to be rigid. Thus, we can write
UAf= CmZ (z < Zc), (15)

and Uaf = 6mZc (z > Zc). (I 5a)

Introducing (15) and (15 a) into (9), we have for the shear stress,

='O (t) (Zd) (z > zc), (16)

and T-0, z < zc (16a)

The shear stress is zero over the region z < zc as there exists no relative motion be-
tween matrix and fibre. The profiles of (16) are the same as those shown in figure 2
except that they now originate at z = zc and not at the centre of the fibre.
Following the procedure for a rigid fibre, the fibre stress distribution is

4(/ )mCT
MOI6m0 ) /m (MM \d d
---Im j (z > Ze), (17)
 288 A. Kelly and K. N. Street

where (d) ~( ).2d d (17 a)

The stress distributions in both creeping and rigid fibres are shown in figure 5 for
comparison. The effect of fibre creep is clear.

+f

fm Imodel

4-o ~ ~I\,,,-true

00
Zc/d 1/2d
zld
FIGURE 4. The fibre creep rate distribution over a fibre length, for the model.

60_

I / m=l
I 30i_ /~~
/4__7~~~~Im=1
I

C'500 -I /

- - -
050 25 O 25
0
O 50
-- -------

z/d
FIGuRE 5. The dependence on m of the calculated stress distribution
o- in rigid (r) and creeping (c) fibres.

The average stress along the entire fibre length is, in general form,

0f H[(7) +O x (c)1 2d (18)

where '& is the average stress within the region of stress build-up close to the fibre
-
ends. Calculating both and o-fma from (17) and substituting into (18) gives

=
~7f mO [VSO (d) + X (m.+1) (d) ,d. (19)
 Creep of discontrnuou8fibre composites. II 289
Finally, the composite strength is
O= 6fV Jf +0-MO('l-Vf) emO
(-)/ (20)

with 5f obtained from (19). However, a solution for ff cannot be obtained without
additional information.

3.3. Stress transfer aspect ratio (s.t.a.r.)

It is apparent that when the fibres creep stress transfer is confined to a zone at
each end of the fibre. In our development this zone is described by the quantity

O~fCf
4
FIGuRE 6. Schematic illustration of changes in fibre stress and creep rate distributions with
changes in matrix creep rate, for the two cases n > m and n < m. The numbers 1, 2, 3
and 4 indicate increasing rates of creep of the matrix.

l'/d which we term the 'stress transfer aspect ratio' or s.t.a.r. To obtain a solution
for C5ffrom (19), it is necessary to calculate zc/d which is related to the s.t.a.r. by
(17 a). From (17) we have
'[Ofma ( +1\ 1 / \/r]M/(m+1L)

d L4P (%m /mo ( )I (21)

since cfma:occurs when z = Zc. To calculate l'/d, we must specify the dependence of
0fmax on creep rate. This we will assume to take the form of a simple power law,

O, f0 (22)

where o-fo, efo and n are known constants: the latter is the fibre stress sensitivity.
Equating of= fmsx and ef = em in (22) and combiningit with (21)yields
l'/d = 0(6m1/n-1Im)m`(m+1), (23)

w(m? +1)/rnCfo061Ino m/(m+1)

.23
where 0- [L--- 4/3'
r4MO6fJ (efa)
At this point, it is worth while pointing out an interesting consequence of the form
of (23). It follows that s.t.a.r. decreases with increasing Em if n > m remains constant
if n = m and increases if n < n. The possibility then exists that the fibre stress
distribution in our model could change from rigid to creeping fibres or vice versa
depending on the relative stress sensitivities of the fibres and matrix. This is shown
schematically in figure 6. We note that the actual fibre creep rate would not become
 290 A. Kelly and K. N. Street
zero for n < m, but that it would be everywhere less than that of the matrix. Thus,
given the basic fibre behaviour of (22), l'/d and hence z,/d can be evaluated and sub-
sequently the composite creep strength from (20). We now proceed to examine in
more detail several aspects associated with the above developments for rigid and
creeping fibres before completing the theory with a brief consideration of a sliding
interface.
3.4. Critical aspect ratio
For a given creep rate in the matrix, fibre fracture will occur when the aspect
ratio surpasses a critical value. lQ/d. This can be determined for the case of rigid
fibres from ( 11) with of = of, the breaking strength of the fibres, and z = 0. Conse-
quently, we have [( m ) m 1 (24)

On the other hand, l/cd cannot be defined for creeping fibres, because -f.maxis
then determined by the intrinsic properties of the fibres and is limited by em rather
than by the length of the fibre (to see this combine (17) and (23) with z zc).

3.5. Long fibres

If a fibre is creeping over the majority of its length such that the s.t.a.r. is
negligibly small relative to l/d, then the expression for composite creep strength (20)
simplifies to aic =/in +/(2 \1
cO 0-ol
r14( ) +Om (I O V)(.(25)

This expression, for the steady-state creep of a continuous fibre composite, is

obtained immediately by assuming equal rates of creep of fibres and matrix and no
interaction between the two (McDanels, Signorelli & Weeton I967). Our theory for
a discontinuous fibre system therefore approaches that of a continuous fibre com-
posite when the ratio of l/d to the s.t.a.r. becomes sufficiently large. For a given em
and Vf,(25) represents the upper limit to the carrying capacity of a composite con-
taining creeping fibres.
3.6. Composite stress sensitivity
In the theory developed for rigid fibres, the stress sensitivity of the composite
creep rate was simply equal to that of the pure matrix. For the case of creeping

11- 64
1013

In C-
FIGURE 7. The changes in the stress sensitivity of the composite associated with the
distributions shown in figure 6. The numbers refer to the states shown in figure 6.
 Creep of discontinuous fibre composites. II 291
fibres, this is no longer so. If the fibres either begin or cease to creep at some particular
composite stress, a changein stress exponent would necessarily follow due to the
change in the carrying capacity of the fibres. This is shown schematically ilnfigure 7.
As for rigid fibres, a change in the exponent of the matrix itself would induce a
similar change in the exponent of the composite at a comparable creep rate.

4. RIGID FIBRES, SLIDING INTERFACE

If sliding takes place along the interface, the shearing traction acting on the
fibre is reduce(d. To calculate r from (9), a value for y must be assumed. For illustra-
tive purposes we take = 1/10. Using this value, the new shear stress profiles from

4_
perfect bond /7m-i

r. 2[ 2 - / yzl=0.1 bond
~~~~~~sliding

0 2 4 6
zld
FiGURE 8. The effect of a sliding interface on the shear stress profile
over a fibre length.

(9) are plotted in figure 8 for matrices characterized by m = 1 and m = 14. The im-
portant result we find is that when m is large, sliding has a relatively small effect
on the distribution and magnitude of r. It follows that the distribution of stress in
the fibre and hence oc-will likewise be relatively insensitive to some sliding when m
is large. Consequently, control of the interface strength (coatings, wettability, etc.)
is most important for matrices of low mn.
As sliding must be a specific characteristic of any one composite system, the
development here is not carried any further. An experimentally measured value for
y, possibly from a pull-out test on a single fibre would allow a prediction of creep
strength to be made using the present theory. Sliding in general may be more com-
mon to resin matrix composites than to metal matrix systems.

5. DiSCUSsION
In paper I, we ha-ve shown that various aspects of the present theory for creeping
fibre composites are in good agreement with the experimental findings. The creep
strelngthof lead-phosphor bronze with fibres of I/d = 100 was satisfactorily predicted,
 292 A. Kelly and K. N. Street
when account was taken of the fact that the fibres were creeping. Similar agreement
was found for fibres of l/d = 50, and in this case the fibres were essentially rigid.
The experimentally found insensitivity of the composite behaviour to variations in
the treatment given to the fibre surface is in excellent qualitative agreement with
our predictions that when the matrix stress sensitivity is large, the effect of sliding
on the fibre stress distributions will be very small. Further support for the calculated
stress distributions within the creeping fibres was obtained from data on the aspect
ratios of broken fibres extracted from creep-tested specimens. As predicted, rupture
occurred in the portion of the fibre that was calculated to be creeping.
Additional comparisons have been made elsewhere with results in the literature
(Street 197I, I972). For silver-tungsten composites investigated by Kelly & Tyson
(I966), the predicted creep strengths agree with experiment for tests at 400 00 but
not at 600 0C. At the latter temperature, the authors report oxidation of the fibres.
Comparison with the few results obtained by Miura & Honma (1 967) on aluminium
tungsten and Mehan (I970) on Al-A1203 did not show any significant disagreement,
but complete data were not available and hence a rigorous comparison could not
be made.
We expect our theory to be less accurate for small values of m since consideration
of small m requires a much more detailed consideration of the dependence of h on
volume fraction. h is used to relate the rate of tensile strain of the composite to the
additional rate of shear of the matrix close to the fibres. For m large, as we saw,
the value taken for h is not critical provided the value of 1f is not too small. If m is
taken as one however, corresponding to taking the matrix to behave as a Newtonian
fluid, (14) for rigid fibres can be written
1
mC=+ 2_- V, (26)

where 0, which depends on the value of h, varies as shown in figure 3 between 0.1
and 1.5 for 0.1 < V < 0.7. Yc and rlmare the viscosities of the composite and of the
pure matrix, respectively. The viscosity of a Newtonian fluid containing rigid dum-
bells or rods of random orientation is calculated to be
2
Vc = +3 (27)

for large values of l/d and for the range of volume fractions in which the perturbing
effects of the particles are independent of one another (see for example, Frisch &
Simha 1956). We therefore predict the same form of the dependence of viscosity
on aspect ratio and on volume fraction in this case also.
A comparison may also be made between the present theory and the recent
development of Mileiko (I970) for rigid fibres with no sliding at the interface.
Rearranging the equation suggested by Mileiko we have, in our notation,

LC (mL- V(m -l)lInJmO ((r+)Im (rmn) r . (28)

 Creep of discontinuous fibre composites. II 293
This equation is only applicable for m > I. For m > 4, and for V1 0.3, the terms
grouped in the square brackets of (28) reduce to a numerical value of 0.3 to 0.4.
This value is to be comparedwith the value of q6the load transferparameterwhich
varies with m and V1as shown in figure 3, and Mileiko'sexpression should be com-
paredwith our (14).
Mileiko assumes that the matrix carrying capacity is negligible. The term due
to the matrix in our development (the second term in square brackets in (14)) is
quite significant, for example when l/d = 30 and Vf= 0.20, it accounts for 25 %
of the compositestress.
If a term representing the effect of the matrix is added to Mileiko's expression
then the two results are very similar and hence it is apparentthat an experimental
decision between the two theories requires experiments on a matrix of very low m
containing fibres of low lid and VF.

The many n-umerousand enlightening discussions with Dr S. T. Mileiko and Dr

D. McLean were most helpful. We also wish to thank Professor P. L. Pratt for his
continued interest in the developments as K. N. Street's supervisorfor the degree
of Ph.D.

REFERENCES
Finnie, I & Heller, W. R. I959 Creep of engineering materials. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Frisch, H. L. & Simha, R. I956 Rheology, theory and applications, vol. 1 (ed. F. R. Eirich).
London: Academic Press.
Kelly, A. & Tyson, W. R. I965 High strength materials (ed. V. F. Zackay), p. 578. New York:
J. Wiley and Sons.
Kelly, A. & Tyson, W. R. I966 J. Mech. Phys. Solids 14, 177.
Lubahn, J. D. & Felgar, R. P. I96I Plasticity and creep of metals, p. 175. New York: J. Wiley
and Sons.
McDanels, D., Signorelli, R. A. & Weeton, J. W. I967 N.A.S.A. TN-4173.
Mehan, R. L. I970 J. comp. Mat. 4, 90.
Mileiko, S. T. 1970 J. Mat. Sci. 5, 254.
Miura, I. & Honma, H. I967 J. Jap. Inst. Met. 31, 607.
Street, K. N. 197I Ph.D. Thesis, University of London.
Street, K. N. 1972 N.P.L. Conference The properties of fibre composites. Guildford: IPC
Science and Technology Press.