In the current work

flow fields in both straight and divergent dies were analyzed

and the circumferential stretch rate in the divergent channel was derived. The glass fiber orientation and distribution across the thickness of samples extruded from both dies at two flow rates were studied.  The formation mechanism of aforementioned glass fiber orientation and distribution was explained by using the distribution of shear and stretch strain rates. The results showed that most of the glass fibers were aligned in the flow direction in the samples extruded from the straight die. A five-layered structure

including two skin layers

two sub-skin layers

and a core layer

formed across the thickness of the samples extruded from the divergent die. It was first found that the fibers exhibited a “W” type alignment in the core layer. It was also demonstrated that the glass fiber alignments were affected more remarkably by the strain rate than the strain.In the current work

flow fields in both straight and divergent dies were analyzed

and the circumferential stretch rate in the divergent channel was derived. The glass fiber orientation and distribution across the thickness of samples extruded from both dies at two flow rates were studied.  The formation mechanism of aforementioned glass fiber orientation and distribution was explained by using the distribution of shear and stretch strain rates. The results showed that most of the glass fibers were aligned in the flow direction in the samples extruded from the straight die. A five-layered structure

including two skin layers

two sub-skin layers

and a core layer

formed across the thickness of the samples extruded from the divergent die. It was first found that the fibers exhibited a “W” type alignment in the core layer. It was also demonstrated that the glass fiber alignments were affected more remarkably by the strain rate than the strain.