Computational continua method and multilevel-multisite mesh refinement method for multiscale analysis of woven composites laminates

Abstract

Three-scale computational continua (C2) method and multilevel-multisite (M2) mesh refinement method are developed for the multiscale analysis of woven composite laminates in this paper. Firstly, in order to carried out the full multiscale analysis of woven composite laminate, a three-scale C2 model is established. The cell with matrix and fiber, tow or yarn and laminated plate are considered as the microscopic, mesoscopic computational unit cells (CUC) and macroscopic problem, respectively. And then, a three-dimensional M2 method is developed to analyze the local displacements and stresses in the woven composite laminate. The refined meshes in the every scale unit cells are regarded as the super elements, and their contributions on the macroscopic stiffness are smeared into the total stiffness matrix of macroscopic problem. The displacement continuity and internal force equilibrium at the interface between two different scale CUCs are ensured by a continuity equation set, in which the requirement of meshing consistency between different CUCs is unnecessary, and the large scale effect can be considered between different CUCs. Several numerical examples are carried out to validate the proposed C2 and M2 methods by comparing with the direct numerical simulations (DNS) models.