Estimating Weibull parameters for materials

Abstract

The statistical analysis of strength and fracture of materials in general, with application to fiber composites are discussed. The weakest link model is considered in a fairly general form, and the resulting equations are demonstrated by using a Weibull distribution for flaws. This distribution appears naturally in a variety of problems, and therefore additional attention is devoted to analysis and statistical estimation connected with this distribution. Special working charts are included to facilitate interpretation of observed data and estimation of parameters. Implications of the size effect are considered for various kinds of flaw distributions. Failure and damage in a fiber-reinforced system are described. Some useful graphs are included for predicting the strength of such a system. Recent data on organic-fiber (PRD 49) composite material is analyzed by the Weibull distribution with the methods presented.