Rules of Mixture

Rules of Mixture
for Elastic Properties
'Rules of Mixtures' are mathematical

expressions which give some property of
the composite in terms of the properties,
quantity and arrangement of its
constituents.
They may be based on a number of
simplifying assumptions, and their use in
design should tempered with extreme
caution!
Density
For a general composite, total volume V,
containing masses of constituents Ma, Mb, Mc,...
the composite density is
Ma Mb Mc ... Ma Mb
...
V
V
V
In terms of the densities and volumes of the
constituents:
v a a v b b v c c
...
V
V
V
Density
But va / V = Va is the volume fraction of the
constituent a, hence:
Va a Vb b Vc c ...
For the special case of a fibre-reinforced matrix:
Vf f Vm m Vf f (1 Vf ) m Vf ( f m ) m
since Vf + Vm = 1
Rule of mixtures density for

glass/epoxy composites
3000
2500
kg/m 3
2000
1500
1000
500
0
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
fibre volume fraction
0.8
Micromechanical models for stiffness
Unidirectional ply
Unidirectional fibres are the simplest
arrangement of fibres to analyse.
They provide maximum properties in the
fibre direction, but minimum properties in
the transverse direction.
fibre direction
transverse
direction
Unidirectional ply
We expect the unidirectional composite to
have different tensile moduli in different
directions.
These properties may be labelled in
several different ways:
E1, E||
E2, E
Unidirectional ply
By convention, the principal axes of the ply are
labelled 1, 2, 3. This is used to denote the fact
that ply may be aligned differently from the
cartesian axes x, y, z.
1
2
Unidirectional ply - longitudinal

tensile modulus
We make the following assumptions in
developing a rule of mixtures:
Fibres are uniform, parallel and
continuous.
Perfect bonding between fibre
and matrix.
Longitudinal load produces equal
strain in fibre and matrix.

tensile modulus
A load applied in the fibre direction is shared
between fibre and matrix:
F1 = F f + F m
The stresses depend on the cross-sectional
areas of fibre and matrix:
1A = fAf + mAm
where A (= Af + Am) is the total cross-sectional
area of the ply

tensile modulus
Applying Hookes law:
E11 A = Eff Af + Emm Am
where Poisson contraction has been ignored
But the strain in fibre, matrix and composite

are the same, so
1 = f = m, and:
E1 A = E f Af + E m Am

tensile modulus
Dividing through by area A:
E1 = Ef (Af / A) + Em (Am / A)
But for the unidirectional ply, (Af / A) and (Am /
A) are the same as volume fractions Vf and Vm
= 1-Vf. Hence:
E1 = Ef Vf + Em (1-Vf)

tensile modulus
E1 = Ef Vf + Em ( 1-Vf )
Note the similarity to the rules of mixture
expression for density.
In polymer composites, Ef >> Em, so
E 1 Ef Vf
60
50
40
UD
30
biaxial
20
CSM
10
0
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
Rule of mixtures tensile modulus

(T300 carbon fibre)
200
tensile modulus (GPa)

(glass fibre/polyester)
150
UD
100
biaxial
quasi-isotropic
50
0
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
This rule of
mixtures is a
good fit to
experimental
data
(source: Hull, Introduction
to Composite Materials,
CUP)
Unidirectional ply transverse tensile modulus

For the transverse stiffness, a load is applied at right angles to the
fibres.
The model is very much simplified, and the fibres are lumped together:
L2
matrix
fibre
Lm
Lf

2
It is assumed that the stress is the

same in each component (2 = f = m).
Poisson contraction effects are ignored.

2
2
Lm
Lf
The total extension is 2 = f + m, so the

strain is given by:
2L2 = fLf + mLm

so that 2 = f (Lf / L2) + m (Lm / L2)

2
2
Lm
Lf
But Lf / L2 = Vf and Lm / L2 = Vm = 1-Vf

So
2 = f Vf + m (1-Vf)
and
2 / E2 = f Vf / Ef + m (1-Vf) / Em

2
2
Lm
Lf
But 2 = f = m, so that:
1 Vf (1 Vf )
E 2 Ef
Em
or
Ef E m
E2
EmVf Ef (1 Vf )
Rule of mixtures - transverse modulus

(glass/epoxy)
E2 (GPa)
16
14
12
10
8
6
If Ef >> Em,
4
2
0
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
E2 Em / (1-Vf)
Note that E2 is not particularly sensitive to Vf.

If Ef >> Em, E2 is almost independent of fibre
property:
Rule of mixtures - transverse modulus

16
carbon/epoxy
14
E2 (GPa)
12
10
8
6
glass/epoxy
4
2
0
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
The transverse modulus is dominated by

the matrix, and is virtually independent
of the reinforcement.
The transverse rule

of mixtures is not
particularly
accurate, due to the
simplifications made
- Poisson effects are
not negligible, and
the strain
distribution is not
uniform:
(source: Hull, Introduction to Composite
Materials, CUP)

Many theoretical studies have been
undertaken to develop better
micromechanical models (eg the semiempirical Halpin-Tsai equations).
A simple improvement for transverse
modulus is
Ef Em
E2
Em Vf Ef (1 Vf )
Em
where Em
1 m2
Generalised rule of mixtures for

tensile modulus
E = L o Ef Vf + Em (1-Vf )
L is a length correction factor. Typically, L 1
for fibres longer than about 10 mm.
o corrects for non-unidirectional reinforcement:
unidirectional
biaxial
biaxial at 45o
random (in-plane)
random (3D)
o
1.0
0.5
0.25
0.375
0.2
Theoretical length correction factor

tanh L / 2
L 1
L / 2
8Gm
E f D2 ln 2R D
length correction factor
0.9
Theoretical length correction

factor for glass fibre/epoxy,
assuming inter-fibre
separation of 20 D.
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0
0.5
1
fibre length (mm)
1.5
Stiffness of short fibre composites

For aligned short fibre composites (difficult to
achieve in polymers!), the rule of mixtures for
modulus in the fibre direction is:
E LEfVf Em( 1 Vf )
The length correction factor (L) can be derived
theoretically. Provided L > 1 mm, L > 0.9
For composites in which fibres are not perfectly
aligned the full rule of mixtures expression is used,
incorporating both L and o.
In short fibre-reinforced thermosetting polymer composites, it

is reasonable to assume that the fibres are always well above
their critical length, and that the elastic properties are
determined primarily by orientation effects.
The following equations give reasonably accurate estimates
for the isotropic in-plane elastic constants:
E E1 E 2
3
8
5
8
G 81 E1 41 E 2
1
2G
where E1 and E2 are the UD values
calculated earlier
60
50
40
UD
30
biaxial
20
CSM
10
0
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8

(T300 carbon fibre)
200

(glass fibre/polyester)
150
UD
100
biaxial
quasi-isotropic
50
0
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
Rules of mixture
properties for
CSM-polyester
laminates
Larsson & Eliasson,
Principles of Yacht Design
Rules of mixture
properties for
glass woven
roving-polyester
laminates
Larsson & Eliasson,
Principles of Yacht Design
Other rules of mixtures

Shear modulus:
1
Vf (1 Vf )
G12 Gf
Gm
Poissons ratio:
12 fVf m (1 Vf )
Thermal expansion:
1
1 ( f EfVf mEm 1 Vf )
E1
2 fVf (1 f ) m (1 Vf )(1 m ) 1 12

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Rules of Mixture

for Elastic Properties

'Rules of Mixtures' are mathematical

Rule of mixtures density for

fibre volume fraction

Micromechanical models for stiffness

Unidirectional ply - longitudinal

Unidirectional ply - longitudinal

Unidirectional ply - longitudinal

But the strain in fibre, matrix and composite

Unidirectional ply - longitudinal

Unidirectional ply - longitudinal

fibre volume fraction

Rule of mixtures tensile modulus

tensile modulus (GPa)

Rule of mixtures tensile modulus

Unidirectional ply transverse tensile modulus

Unidirectional ply transverse tensile modulus

It is assumed that the stress is the

Unidirectional ply transverse tensile modulus

The total extension is 2 = f + m, so the

2L2 = fLf + mLm

Unidirectional ply transverse tensile modulus

But Lf / L2 = Vf and Lm / L2 = Vm = 1-Vf

Unidirectional ply transverse tensile modulus

Rule of mixtures - transverse modulus

fibre volume fraction

Note that E2 is not particularly sensitive to Vf.

Rule of mixtures - transverse modulus

fibre volume fraction

The transverse modulus is dominated by

The transverse rule

Unidirectional ply transverse tensile modulus

Generalised rule of mixtures for

Theoretical length correction factor

length correction factor

Theoretical length correction

Stiffness of short fibre composites

In short fibre-reinforced thermosetting polymer composites, it

fibre volume fraction

Rule of mixtures tensile modulus

tensile modulus (GPa)

Rule of mixtures tensile modulus

Other rules of mixtures

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