Stress Transfer in High Performance Polyethylene Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Resin Composite Analyzed by X-Ray Diffraction

In the Direction Perpendicular to the Fiber Axis

Abstract

Stress transfer perpendicular to the axis of high performance polyethylene fibers in a fiber reinforced epoxy resin composite was investigated by X-ray diffraction. The intensity of stress σ_f in the embedded fiber could be measured by monitoring the strain of the crystalline regions of polyethylene by X-ray diffraction. The stress σ_f increased linearly with the applied stress σ_o as well as the hydrophilicity of fiber surface. Further the increase of σ_o made the stress σ_f reach a plateau. The fracture behavior was variable depending on the surface treatment of fiber. The “X-Ray Diffraction Method” is shown to be a powerful tool for detecting the stress on the incorporated fiber in the composite under load in situ and non-destructively.