= Glass fibre
A <glass fibre> is a thin strand of <glass> used as a reinforcement. When embedded in a <composite matrix>, many <glass fibres> can carry axial <tension> while the surrounding material maintains their positions and transfers load between them. The reinforcement is effective only if the interface transmits the required <shear stress>; an unbonded fibre can slide without carrying the expected load.
Continuous aligned <glass fibres> reinforce one direction strongly, whereas short fibres with varied orientations distribute reinforcement over more directions.<Fibre reinforced composites (UNSW tutorial)>[Classification into continuous aligned, discontinuous random and discontinuous aligned reinforcement]{ref} Even if the <glass> itself is approximately <isotropic>, a <composite material> containing aligned <glass fibres> is generally <anisotropic>. Comparing specimens with equal <fibre volume fraction> but different orientations separates the effects of constituent quantity and arrangement.
Back to article page
