Analytical method for micromechanics of textile composites

doi:10.1016/S0266-3538(97)00030-4

Composites Science and Technology

Volume 57, Issue 6, 1997, Pages 703-713

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0266-3538(97)00030-4 Get rights and content

Abstract

An analytical method called the selective averaging method (SAM) is proposed for prediction of the thermoelastic constants of textile composite materials. The unit cell of the composite is divided into slices (mesoscale), and the slices are subdivided into elements (microscale). The elastic constants of the homogenized medium are found by averaging the elastic constants of the elements selectively for both isostress and isostrain conditions. For thin textile composites where there are fewer unit cells in the thickness direction, SAM is used to compute directly the [A], [B] and [D] matrices of the composite plate. The results obtained by the SAM are compared with available finite-element-based micro-mechanical methods and analytical solutions.

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Micromechanical models for textile structural composites
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Performance maps of textile structural composites

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

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The ABD matrix is a fundamental method to characterize the overall stiffness behavior of laminated composite structures. Although classical laminate theory has been widely used, it has limitations in predicting the ABD matrix for woven composites. To address this issue, this paper presents a mesoscale homogenization approach aimed at computing the ABD matrix for thin woven composites accurately. The mesoscale representative volume element (RVE) of the woven composite is generated using TexGen and imposed with periodic boundary conditions to enforce the Kirchhoff thin plate assumption. The ABD matrix is computed by conducting six separate finite element simulations, each representing one simple in-plane or out-of-plane deformation in a specified direction. Moreover, to facilitate the implementation of the method, an open-source plugin tool was developed within ABAQUS CAE, automating the ABD matrix calculation for various types of woven composites including 2D weave, 3D weave, and multiaxial. The accuracy of the proposed method was validated through benchmark calculations against existing literature results.
Process-structure-performance modelling and progressive damage analysis of 3D rotary-four-directional rectangular braided composites under tensile load
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The mechanical properties of braided composites are sensitive to the braiding process. However, the relations between process parameters, yarn structures and mechanical properties of three-dimensional (3D) rotary braided composites have not been investigated. In this study, we aim to establish a model capable of characterizing the yarn structures and mechanical properties of 3D rotary braided composites by treating braiding angles as primary variables. Carrier motions on the bedplate were traced by mathematical functions, where corresponding yarn spatial paths within a representative volume element (RVE) were explored. A parametric finite element model (FEM) of 3D rotary-four-directional (3DR4d) braided composites was established considering realistic yarn cross-sections. A progressive damage model was used to predict the mechanical performance of the composites. Experiments were conducted to verify the proposed model. The results show that the ideal yarn topology of the rotary braided composites is similar to the lattice structure. In addition, the longitudinal tensile modulus and strength of 3DR4d braided composites increase with the decreased braiding angles, while increasing with the increased fiber volume fractions. According to damage analysis, longitudinal tension and transverse shear are the dominant failure modes of 3DR4d composites with small and large braiding angles, respectively.
Free vibration responses of 3D braided rotating cylindrical shells based on third-order shear deformation
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3D braided composite has achieved attractiveness over the laminated composite due it some unique properties such as higher impact resistance, fatigue strength, stiffness in the thickness direction, anti-delamination capability, etc. In this study, the equivalent material properties of the composites are computed using bridging models base on a volume averaging method (VAM). Four steps 1 × 1 braided technique are introduced to manufacture the 3D braided rotating cylindrical shells panels. A third-order shear deformation (TSDT) with twelve degrees of freedom per node is used in the present eight nodded isoparametric 3D-finite element formulation (FEM). This theory has more capability compared to the other shell theories to predict the accurate results of the 3D braided shell. The generalized dynamic equilibrium equation of the present models is derived from Lagrange’s equation of motion. For moderate rotational speeds, the Coriolis effect is neglected. The correctness of the present finite element code is investigated by verifying with the existing results. The modals result of the rotating cylindrical shells (CYS) is computed at a different braided angle, braided volume fraction, aspect ratio, thickness ratio, curvature ratio, twist angle, blade setting angle, pre-cone angle, and rotational speeds, etc.
Analysis of three-dimensional bending deformations and failure of wet and dry laminates
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Citation Excerpt :
None of these works account for functionalization of fibers used to enhance their bonding to the matrix, and variations in fibers shapes usually found during scanning electron microscopic examinations. Several numerical [19–21] and analytical [22–25] homogenization schemes are described in the literature. For example, Ullah et al. [25] used a multi-scale computational homogenization procedure to determine the coupled hygro-thermo-mechanical response of fiber-reinforced polymer composites.
For given mechanical properties of the fiber and the matrix, and their volume fractions, we first numerically, using the finite element method, find values of the elastic moduli and the diffusivity of the homogenized unidirectional (UD) lamina. However, values of material parameters appearing in the Hashin failure criteria for a lamina and in the cohesive zone model for simulating delamination between adjacent plies, the coefficient of swelling (or hygral expansion), and of the reduction in values of parameters upon full saturation with water are taken from the literature. Using these values, we analyze 3-dimensional hygro-mechanical deformations of dry and fully saturated UD and cross-ply (CP) laminates for a 3-point bending configuration, and delineate differences in failure mechanisms of dry and wet laminates. It is found that, at full saturation, the hygral stresses are negligible in UD laminates but alternate between compressive and tensile values of large magnitude in the CP laminate. Furthermore, the hygral stresses are found to suppress failures in some regions but facilitate in other parts of the laminates. During displacement controlled simulations, the maximum load at the mid-span of wet laminates is found to be about 30% less than that for the corresponding dry laminates, delamination induced between adjacent plies of a laminate causes noticeable sliding between them, and warping near the laminate corners.
Representative cell modeling strategy of 2.5D woven composites considering the randomness of weft cross-section for mechanical properties prediction
2020, Engineering Fracture Mechanics
In view of the large difference between the traditional unit-cell model (UCM) and the actual microstructure of 2.5D woven composites, which will affect the mechanical properties and failure behavior, a representative volume element (RVE) modeling strategy considering the randomness of weft cross-section (WFCS) is developed, and the established model is called statistical volume element (SVE) in this work. Based on the microscopy observation of warp cross-section (WPCS) and WFCS, some geometric parameters are counted, and thereby the SVE can be established. Then, the mechanical properties of 2.5D woven composites, including the stiffness and strengths in the warp and weft directions, are predicted by the SVE and UCM, respectively. Compared with the experimental results, the maximum errors predicted by the SVE and UCM are 3.84% and 15.23%, respectively. Therefore, the mechanical properties predicted by the SVE are more accurate than those predicted by the UCM. Furthermore, considering the prediction accuracy and calculation cost comprehensively, the authors suggest that the SVE and UCM should be adopted for the warp-loaded and weft-loaded progressive damage process, respectively. This work provides a method for the RVE modeling of 2.5D woven composites considering randomness, which can be extended to the modeling of other textile composites.
Thermo-mechanical modeling of C/C 3D orthogonal and angle interlock woven fabric composites in high temperature environment
2020, Mechanics of Materials
Citation Excerpt :
It fails to consider 3D orthogonal geometry due to the 1D limitation of their model. Further, Sankar and Marrey (1997) proposed a 2D analytical based selective average method to evaluate the in-plane and transverse CTEs of plain and satin weave composites. Tan et al. (1997) have reviewed the prediction of thermomechanical properties of 3D composites and the various homogenization schemes at both structural and material levels considering the nonlinear behavior of textile composites.
Carbon/Carbon (C/C) 3D textile composites are very popular in various fields of applications such as aerospace, defence, and chemical industries due to their attractive mechanical and thermal properties. Consequently, investigation of these properties of 3D C/C textile composites has become an essential primary requirement for thermo-structural analysis of composites structures in high-temperature applications. In this study, a finite element based Representative Volume Element (RVE) has been developed to perform the thermo-mechanical analysis. Thermo-mechanical properties of 3D C/C orthogonal interlock woven fabric composite (OIWFC) and angle interlock woven fabric composite (AIWFC) are investigated. The RVE analysis for the evaluation of thermo-mechanical properties has been carried out with the implementation of multi-scale modeling techniques and periodic boundary conditions (BCs). The micro-scale analysis predicts the thermo-mechanical properties of fiber yarn/tow. Further, yarn properties are incorporated into the meso-scale model to predict the thermo-mechanical properties of 3D C/C woven fabric composites. The variation of mechanical constants and coefficient of thermal expansions (CTEs) values have been investigated within the temperature range from 300 K to 2500 K. It has been extended for the prediction of variation of thermo-mechanical properties with respect to the number of weft layers along the thickness direction of the 3D orthogonal interlock woven fabric composites. The validation study has been carried out and present FE based numerical results agree well with numerical and experimental results from the available literature.

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^∗: Present address: Advance USA, Old Lyme, Connecticut, USA.

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Analytical method for micromechanics of textile composites

Abstract

Acta Metall. Mater.

Compos. Sci. Technol.

Effects of through-the-thickness stitching on impact and interlaminar fracture properties of textile graphite/epoxy laminates

Inner stress analysis of plane woven fiber reinforced plastic laminates

Bull. JSME

Tbermo-elastic properties of woven-fabric composites using homogenization techniques

Three-dimensional stress analysis of plain weave composites

Approximating the stress field within the unit cell of a fabric reinforced composite using replacement elements

Micromechanical models for textile structural composites

Performance maps of textile structural composites