An empirical model of the strength of a porous glass wool composite

The tensile strengths of porous glass wool composites have been determined by means of normal tensile tests and parting strength tests. The experimental results thus obtained were then used, with the aid of a computer, to develop a mathematical correlation between tensile strength and composite structural parameters. By experimental adaptation and by using different boundary conditions, the equation $\text{T = 1·36GH + √H + 0·15G}{}^3$ was developed where $\text{T = tensile strength}$, $\text{G = glass content}$ and $\text{H = 100 × resin/glass}$ ratio. This equation is valid over the entire density and resin content ranges examined, and the correlation between empirical results and values predicted by the model is excellent.In addition, our model has been developed in relation to variations of both fibre and resin contents, and the analytic solution has proved to be valid in relation to some structural changes, which suggests that the model also has physical significance.