Abstract
IN THIS PAPER, the influence of applied load on the overall transverse mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced composites with compliant interphases is examined from a micromechanical perspective. The composite is modeled by a regular hexagonal array of circular fibers in an infinite matrix. It is assumed that a thin reaction zone (intermolecular bonding at the fiber/matrix interface) establishes the bond between the fiber and matrix phases. The model of the present paper allows us to derive expressions for the overall elastic constants in the transverse plane as a function of applied load. The finite element method is used to evaluate these expressions, and the results are discussed.