Effect of Fractal-Based Fiber Clustering on Tensile Properties of BFRP

To explore the clustering phenomenon of discontinuous fibers in composite materials, this paper deduces the fiber uniform distribution coefficient and analytical expressions of fiber clustering content based on fractal theory and establishes a tensile strength prediction model of fiber/epoxy resin composite materials containing cluster fibers. With basalt fiber/epoxy resin composites (BFRP) as an example, this paper analyzes the tensile strength law of BFRP under fiber clustering effect. The results show that when the fiber volume fraction is constant, the tensile strength of the composite in the presence of agglomerated fibers is only related to the fractal dimension of the circumference and cross-sectional area of the inner fiber agglomerate. The calculated value of the composite tensile strength based on fractal theory is lower than the experimental value, but closer to the experimental value than the approximate method. The research conclusions can provide theoretical support for strength prediction of fiber/epoxy resin composites.

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