Analysis of Textile Composite Structures Subjected to High Temperature Oxidizing Environment

Abstract

This research work has contributed in various ways to help develop a better understanding of textile composites and materials with complex microstructures in general. An instrumental part of this work was the development of a framework that made it convenient to perform multiscale/multiphysics analyses of advanced materials such as textile composites with complex microstructures. In addition to the studies conducted in this work, this framework lays the groundwork for continued research of these materials. In addition to implementing an oxidation model, the framework was also used to implement strategies that expedited the simulation of oxidation in textile composites so that it would take only a few hours instead of impractically long times. Finally, a coupled diffusion/oxidation and damage progression analysis was implemented that was used to study the mechanical behavior of textile composites under mechanical loading as well as oxidation.