Failure plane orientations for transverse loading of a unidirectional fiber composite

Using a recently developed failure theory for transversely isotropic fiber composites, it is shown how the orientation of the failure surface can be determined for transverse tension and compression. It is also shown that failure surface orientations decompose into those of ductile type versus those of brittle type. Experimental data on failure surface orientations have been obtained for carbon fiber composite systems based on both thermoplastic and thermosetting matrix materials. Average compression failure planes for the different composite materials were measured to range from 31° to 38° from the load axis. Reasonable agreement was obtained between these measured angles and those predicted from application of the new failure theory.