Compressive failure of composites,part I: Testing and micromechanical theories

When structures made of composite materials are designed to be used in load bearing applications, a primary consideration is the evaluation of their load carrying capacity in compression. To this end, a vast number of research investigations, whose main objective is linked to ascertaining the compressive strength of a composite structure has been carried out and/or is currently being performed. Apart from its practical significance, the complexity associated with the task of predicting compression strength is the main reason for the overt attention this problem is receiving. One such difficulty has been associated with testing. When laboratory tests are carried out to determine compression strength, structural instabilities dictated by the geometry of the structure may interfere with material strength dictated by the mechanical properties of the constituents and their alignment and geometry (needed to describe the microstructure of the material). In addition stress concentrations may occur at undesirable locations. In Part I, issues pertaining to compression testing and micromechanical failure theories are reviewed.