A Note on the Structure of Glass Fibres

JSGT 1953 V37 T302-T305

A. A. Griffith attributed the discrepancy between the theoretical and practical mechanical strength to flaws or cracks of varying severity. Because of the flaws which occur at the surface of a fibre, atmospheric attack would be expected to wield a further influence, a phenomenon which has been amply demonstrated. One of Griffith's principal arguments in favour of the flaw theory was a dependence of mechanical strength upon sample size. Thus, he found that the strength of his glass fibres rose rapidly with decreasing diameter, and indeed this has been demonstrated by others since that time.

S. Bateson