Modelling transversely isotropic fiber-reinforced composites with unidirectional fibers and microstructure

Source abstract

This paper develops a micropolar constitutive model for a transversely isotropic composite material comprised of a polymer matrix and unidirectional fibers. The constitutive law follows Eringen’s model for a generally anisotropic micropolar medium and reduces the model to the transversely isotropic case. The model is then used to develop a boundary value problem with a homogenization procedure, with the goal of obtaining an analytical solution for the homogenized elastic moduli once solved. A variational principle is used to develop the boundary conditions.