The Static Tensile Strengths of a Random Chopped Glass/Polypropylene Composite Estimated by a Percolation Model

Abstract

The static strength of a quasi-isotropically reinforced random chopped glass/polypropylene composite is studied theoretically and experimentally. In the previous paper⁽¹⁾ a fracture model is proposed which simulates probabilistically the damage accumulation process. On the basis of the percolation theory, the model can estimate the static strength of the FRPP as the critical point on condition that the fiber volume fraction is 30%wt. In this paper, by applying the model, the strengths of a discontinuous fiber composite are predicted as a function of the volume fraction of glass fiber. By comparing with the experimental data, the validity of the model is confirmed in terms of the fiber volume fraction.