Abstract
This article reviews the literature studies based on improving the mechanical properties of fibre-reinforced composites
using fibre-prestressing method. The idea is characterized by pretensioning the fibres either elastically or viscoelastically
prior matrix curing. The beginnings of the studies in this field were focused on reducing fibre waviness and breaking the
weaker fibres by pretensioning the fibres to a relatively high stress level prior moulding process. In the last three decades,
the concept of fibre prestressing had been developed to include its ability to reduce the effect of undesired residual
stresses existence accompanying manufacturing process of fibre-reinforced composites. The main advantage of fibre
prestressing method is to generate a desired and controlled residual stress state within the matrix in order to obstruct
the initiation and propagation of cracks. Various techniques of fibre prestressing have been reviewed to show their scope
of applications, developments and limitations. Therefore, the findings drawn from this review can be used for further
studies in the field of fibre prestressed composites in order to select the most suitable methodology and develop it to fit
the manufacturing process requirements towards a production of high-performance composites without a considerable
additional cost.