Micromechanical model of cross-over fiber bridging

A micromechanical model of cross-over fiber bridging is developed for the prediction of macroscopic mixed mode bridging laws (traction-separation laws). The bridging ligament/fiber is treated as a beam, using moderately large deflection beam theory. The model includes debonding between fiber and matrix as well as buckling of fibers in compression. The predictions made by the proposed semi-analytical micromechanical model are shown to be in excellent agreement with those made by detailed finite element models. The computational efficiency of the novel model enables parameter studies that would otherwise be unfeasible. Further, the proposed model can be implemented as a physics based cohesive law for use in meso and macroscale finite element models.