| Summary: | <p> The tensile strength of the fiber/matrix interface was determined through the development of an innovative test procedure. A miniature tensile coupon with a through-thickness oriented, embedded single fiber was designed. Tensile testing was conducted in a scanning electron microscope (SEM) while the failure process could be observed. Finite element stress analysis was conducted to determine the state of stress at the fiber/matrix interface in the tensile loaded specimen, and the strength of the interface. Test specimens consisting of dry E-glass/epoxy and dry and seawater saturated carbon/vinylester 510A were prepared and tested. The load at the onset of debonding was combined with the radial stress distribution near the free surface of the specimen to reduce the interfacial tensile strength (σ<i><sub>i</sub></i>). For glass/epoxy, σ<i><sub>i</sub></i> was 36.7±8.8 MPa. For the dry and seawater saturated carbon/vinylester specimens the tensile strengths of the interface were 23.0±6.6 and 25.2±4.1 MPa, respectively. The difference is not significant.</p>
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