  In this work, we developed an improved shear lag model to investigate the
load transfer characteristics of three-phase nanocomposite which is reinforced
with microscale fibers augmented with carbon nanotubes on their circumferential
surfaces. The shear lag model accounts for (i) radial and axial deformations of
different transversely isotropic constituents, (ii) thermomechanical loads on
the representative volume element (RVE), and (iii) staggering effect of
adjacent RVEs. The results from the current newly developed shear lag model are
validated with the finite element simulations and found to be in good
agreement. Our study reveals that the reduction in the maximum value of the
axial stress in the fiber and the interfacial shear stress along its length
become more pronounced in the presence of applied thermomechanical loads on the
staggered RVEs. The existence of shear tractions along the RVE length plays a
significant role in the load transfer characteristics and cannot be ignored.
