A new strategy for generating regional random fiber-reinforced polymer composite

Abstract

This paper proposes a novel method of random fiber distribution inspired by the finite element mesh technique. It solves the problem of fiber interference when generating the Representative Volume Element (RVE) with a high volume fraction and prevents fiber cluster formation at low volume fractions. Theoretically, the method can produce Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites with volume fractions up to 90.7%. The mechanical properties of FRP composites are then predicted using a progressive damage model that considers the failure of the matrix and interface. The experimental results in the literature verify the rationality of the numerical model. Finally, the effect of varying volume fractions and cell-cutting methods on the mechanical characteristics of unidirectional FRP composites under transverse loading was studied. The results show that the elastic modulus increases with increasing fiber volume fraction, while the tensile strength shows an opposite trend. The hexagonal cell-cutting method can alleviate the adverse effect of the decrease in tensile strength with the increase in fiber volume fraction. Meanwhile, the hexagonal cell-cutting method is reliably reproducible, and the coefficient of variation for the 30 renditions is only 0.05%. It illustrates that the hexagonal cell-cutting method can generate composites with higher tensile strength compared to other methods.