Abstract
This paper presents an analysis of a composite cell at a micro level. The authors modeled the interface between a micro sphere and a polymeric matrix for two cases: an interface characterized by a strong bond between the two involved bodies and an interface with low friction between the micro sphere and the polymeric matrix. Even if these models are ideal images of actual composites, the analysis of strain and stress distributions reveals there is a big difference in the mechanical behaviour of the two micro cells. These two cases were analyzed considering a perfect elastic behaviour of involved materials. The shape and the intensity of stress distributions are different for the analyzed models. A weak interface makes the matrix to have restrained zones with high values of von Mises stresses, concentrated on top and bottom of the sphere (on the loading direction). An actual cell of a similar composite (polymeric matrix and a micro sphere as reinforcement) could not have an „extremist” behaviour as these two here presented, but an intermediate one, depending on actual properties of the materials and the nature of the interface. Keywords: micro cell composite, strain distribution, stress distribution