Microstrain localisation measurement in epoxy FRCs during plastic deformation using a digital image correlation technique coupled with scanning electron microscopy

In this work, the potential of a novel combination of in situ tensile tests coupled with scanning electron microscopy and the technique of surface displacement mapping via digital image correlation is exhibited for resolving the spatial distribution of the plastic microstrains during tensile deformation. The strain mapping at mesoscale provided a good insight into the microstructure of the material and revealed the selective plastic deformation of certain regions such as the areas containing large amounts of polymer matrix between the fibres. The quantitative analysis of the localised microstrain in the interphase region revealed a large difference between the localised microstrain and the average applied strain.