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Does the shear-lag model apply to random fiber networks?

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Abstract

The shear-lag type model due to Cox (Br. J. Appl. Phys. 3, 72 (1952) is widely used to calculate the deformation properties of fibrous materials such as short fiber composites and random fiber networks. We compare the shear-lag stress transfer mechanism with numerical simulations at small, linearly elastic strains and conclude that the model does not apply to random fiber networks. Most of the axial stress is transferred directly from fiber to fiber rather than through intermediate shear-loaded segments as assumed in the Cox model. The implications for the elastic modulus and strength of random fiber networks are discussed.

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Author notes

  1. V. I. Räisänen

    Present address: Current address: ICA 1, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 27, Stuttgart, D-70569, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CSC–Center for Scientific Computing, P.O. Box 405, Espoo, FIN-02101, Finland

    V. I. Räisänen & R. M. Nieminen

  2. Helsinki University of Technology, Laboratory of Physics, Espoo, FIN-02150, Finland

    M. J. Alava & R. M. Nieminen

  3. KCL Paper Science Centre, P.O. Box 70, Espoo, FIN-02151, Finland

    K. J. Niskanen

Authors
  1. V. I. Räisänen
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  2. M. J. Alava
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  3. K. J. Niskanen
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  4. R. M. Nieminen
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Räisänen, V.I., Alava, M.J., Niskanen, K.J. et al. Does the shear-lag model apply to random fiber networks?. Journal of Materials Research 12, 2725–2732 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1557/JMR.1997.0363

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/JMR.1997.0363

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