Analysis of fiber distribution and volume ratio of unidirectional composite for micromodels

Abstract

This work focuses on assessment of real fiber and matrix volume ratios of unidirectional fiber composites which will be used while designing corresponding micromodels. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed on samples with polished cross-sections. Obtained images of various parts of the composite cross-sections are analyzed by convolution with a circular binary mask and a suitably chosen spatial function using Matlab and its Image processing toolbox. The output of this analysis are center positions and radii of all fibers. Subsequently, the fiber and matrix volume ratios are easily determined.