Application of Spatial Statistics to Analysis of Fiber Composite Materials

Abstract

Continuous fiber composite materials consist of long fine carbon fibers embedded in a matrix of epoxy. They are lightweight and extremely strong and are extensively used in the aerospace industries. They are treated as homogeneous for ordinary engineering calculations. However, at the microscopic scale they are inhomogeneous, and this inhomogeneity may be related to failure modes of the material. We present a descriptive analysis of a sample of fiber composite material using spatial statistics. The material is analyzed both from a random field perspective and a point process perspective. We also consider a simulation model for the microstructure of the material, based on the Strauss process, and assess its performance.