Effect of various approximations on predicted progressive failure in plain weave composites

Abstract

Three-dimensional finite element analysis was used to simulate progressive failure of a plain weave composite subjected to in-plane extension.The loading was parallel to one of the tow directions.The effects of various characteristics of the finite element model on predicted behaviour were examined. The predicted behavior was found to be sensitive to quadrature order, mesh refinement and the material degradation model. Also the sensitivity of the predictions to the tow waviness was studied. The predicted strength decreased considerably with increased waviness. More numerical studies and comparisions with experimental data are needed to establish reliable guidelines for accurate progressive failure prediction.

Analysis of Mechanical Properties for 2D Woven Kenaf Composite

“…Finally the macro-mechanical modeling stage is referred to the prediction of mechanical performance of the composite in complex deformations, as drape, studying the composite as a continuum material [11,12]. Thus the textile society implemented a modeling hierarchy based on three modeling scales: the micromechanical modeling of yarns, the meso-mechanical modeling of the fabric unit cell and the macro-mechanical modeling of the fabric sheet [13,14,15].…”

A Stress Gradient Failure Theory for Textile Structural Composites

“…Finite element analysis of initial failure of a plain weave composite [10] has shown that failure due to inter-tow normal stresses are the predominant mode of failure, and there is generally little or no damage volume of the bulk matrix between tows. This work is extended to a thorough investigation of progressive failure analysis under axial extension using several different property knockdown schemes.…”

“…To facilitate the use of textile composites in lightweight structures, it is required to have a lucid understanding of failure mechanisms, and design engineers must have an accurate and practical model for prediction of failure stress. Most of the current analytical and numerical methodologies developed to characterize textile composites [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] assume that the textile is a homogeneous material at the macroscopic scale.…”

Mechanical Analysis of Woven Fabrics:The State of the Art

“…The evolution of numerical methods in the next years produced the first 3D finite element models of the plain woven composites. Whitcomb studied the effect of quadrature order, mesh density and material degradation on the predicted failure resulting from the in-plain loading (Whitcomb & Srirengan, 1996). The 3D solid modelling of the composite structure consists in the generation of the volumes representing the woven unit cell and an external volume (with the apparent dimensions of the composite unit cell).…”