Scanning electron microscope fiber push-out apparatus and method

Apparatus for use in measuring properties of a fiber-matrix composite material including a plurality of fibers in a matrix with at least one interface between each of the fibers and said matrix, each of the plurality of fibers has an end, said apparatus comprising:

• pushing means for pushing the end of at least one fiber of the plurality of fibers with respect to the matrix;
• sensing means for sensing an interfacial property of the fiber-matrix composite material whenever the at least one fiber is pushed with respect to the matrix;
• X-ray means for identifying the interface associated with debonding of the at least one fiber from the matrix:
• and
• magnification means for magnifying the fiber-matrix composite material in order to align said pushing means with the end of the at least one fiber and observe the interface during said pushing of the end of the at least one fiber.

Apparatus for use in measuring properties of a fiber for a fiber-matrix composite material, the fiber including a shaft having a longitudinal portion, said apparatus comprising:

• pushing means for pushing the longitudinal portion of the shaft of the fiber;
• sensing means for sensing a force applied by said pushing means to the longitudinal portion of the shaft of the fiber;
• and
• magnification means for magnifying the longitudinal portion of the shaft of the fiber in order to align said pushing means with the longitudinal portion of the shaft of the fiber.

Method for sensing at least one interfacial property of a fiber-matrix composite material including a plurality of fibers in a matrix with at least one interface between each of the fibers and said matrix, the plurality of fibers having an end, said method comprising the steps of:

• magnifying the fiber-matrix composite material in order to identify the end of an individual fiber of the plurality of fibers;
• aligning an indentor with the end of the individual fiber;
• pushing the end of the individual fiber with respect to the matrix with the indentor;
• employing X-ray means to identify the interface associated with debonding of the individual fiber from the matrix;
• sensing at least one interfacial property of the fiber-matrix composite material whenever the individual fiber is pushed with respect to the matrix;
• and
• observing the interface during said pushing of the end of the individual fiber.

Apparatus for use in measuring properties of a support material including at least one member which is supported by the support material, the at least one member having a surface, with at least one interface between each of the members and the support material, said apparatus comprising:

• pushing means for pushing the surface of the at least one member with respect to the support material;
• sensing means for sensing at least one property of the at least one member whenever the at least one member is pushed with respect to the support material;
• means for identifying the interface associated with debonding of the at least one member from the support material:
• and
• electron microscope means for magnifying the support material in order to align said pushing means with the surface of the at least one member and observe the interface during said pushing of the surface of the at least one member.