1University
of Plymouth School of Engineering, (formerly UoP Department of Mechanical and
Marine Engineering), RYB 008, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, United Kingdom
2Peninsula
Medical School, (formerly UoP Department of Biological Sciences), PSQ C301,
Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, United Kingdom
(Received 11/03;
accepted 6/04)
Abstract
The distribution of the fibres
within a tow of a plain weave fabric composite appears to be non-uniform with
a systematic variation. In a different composite system, the strain along a
fibre in a similar fabric has been shown to vary along each individual
filament in an ordered manner. It is proposed that the highest fibre strains
occur at the centre of the tow crossing points. An optical micrograph of
matrix cracking in the transverse tows adjacent to the proposed highest strain
point would appear to confirm this hypothesis. This analysis is based on
limited evidence, but is presented to permit other researchers to confirm or
refute the proposition.
