Snubbing and Bundling Effects on Multiple Crack Spacing of Discontinuous Random Fiber‐Reinforced Brittle Matrix Composites

Abstract

Multiple cracking due to pseudo strain–hardening of fiber‐reinforced brittle matrix composites contributes significantly to enhanced composite strain capacity as well as toughness. This unique phenomenon is true for both continuous aligned and discontinuous random fiber composites. Theoretical formulation of multiple crack spacing is reviewed in this paper. In particular, a snubbing effect of fiber pullout and a bundling effect of fiber strands on crack spacing are discussed. Taking account of these effects, expressed via the snubbing coefficient, f , and effective bond strength, τ eff , a better spacing prediction has been obtained for a discontinuous random glass‐strand‐reinforced cement composite.