Analytical Micromechanics Models for Elastoplastic Behavior of Long Fibrous Composites: A Critical Review and Comparative Study

Elasto-plastic models for composites can be classified into three categories in terms of a length scale, i.e., macro scale, meso scale, and micro scale (micromechanics) models. In general, a so-called multi-scale model is a combination of those at various length scales with a micromechanics one as the foundation. In this paper, a critical review is made for the elastoplastic models at the micro scale, and a comparative study is carried out on most popular analytical micromechanics models for the elastoplastic behavior of long fibrous composites subjected to a static load, meaning that creep and dynamic response are not concerned. Each model has been developed essentially following three steps, i.e., an elastic homogenization, a rule to define the yielding of a constituent phase, and a linearization for the elastoplastic response. The comparison is made for all of the three aspects. Effects of other issues, such as the stress field fluctuation induced by a high contrast heterogeneity, the stress concentration factors in the matrix, and the different approaches to a plastic Eshelby tensor, are addressed as well. Correlation of the predictions by different models with available experimental data is shown.