Gradually recruited fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite

A fiber reinforced polymer composite comprising:

• a central layer and a plurality of successive layers containing a plurality of fibers;
• and said plurality of successive layers are recruited to assist said central stiff layer to resist a load;
• said successive layers include a plurality of fibers, each of said fibers in a layer formed by a plurality of repeating segments, said repeating segments comprised of a plurality of legs connected at apexes to form a zigzag pattern, said apexes having a predetermined apex angle;
• said fibers in said central stiff layer are straight;
• said successive layers are arranged as layer pairs, said layers pairs form successive layers that are mirror images with respect to said central stiff layer;
• and
• said mirror image layer pairs have a first position wherein each layer pair has a first apex angle and transitions to a second position when a load is applied to said composite and during said transition, said apex angle in each layer pair increases until said fibers straighten.