Effect of fibre architecture on tensile pull-off behaviour of 3D woven composite T-joints

Shibo Yan,Xuesen Zeng,Andrew Long

doi:10.1016/j.compstruct.2020.112194

Shibo Yan, Xuesen Zeng + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2020.112194

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Abstract

3D woven composites are frequently employed due to their improved through-thickness properties and high damage tolerance compared with laminated composites. Due to the large design space for 3D weave patterns, an in-depth understanding of the relationship between the weave parameters and mechanical properties is essential for the design of these materials. This numerical study investigates the effect of fibre architecture on the mechanical performance of 3D woven composite T-joints under tensile pull-off loading. Six weave pattern variations, subjected to the same preform manufacturing constraint, are designed and numerically analysed, along with another two that have been manufactured and tested for validation previously. Results show a significant architecture dependence in the mechanical responses. Following the design of experiments on weave patterns, the complex architecture-dependant effect is decoupled by two independent variables, yarn path entanglement and yarn path crossover. The study also provides design recommendations for 3D woven T-joint reinforcements under tensile pull-off loading.

Highlights

The design space of 3D woven composites is large, for those with geometric features, as the design variables are orientations and thicknesses, and an enormous variation in the 3D fibre architectures
With the aim to optimise the weave pattern of 3D woven T-joints, further to the two experimentally tested weave patterns [20], this paper presents a comprehensive numerical study to investigate the effect of 3D reinforcement architecture on the mechanical behaviour of 3D woven T-joints under pull-off loading
We proposed two geometry-based design variables to simplify the design space

Summary

Introduction

The design space of 3D woven composites is large, for those with geometric features, as the design variables are orientations and thicknesses, and an enormous variation in the 3D fibre architectures. Crimp in the load-carrying yarns of 3D woven composites caused by binder yarns links to the reduction of tensile modulus and strength due to the high anisotropy in fibre properties [17]. This is supported by the studies in [9,15] as 3D orthogonal woven composite panels were found to show greater strength and modulus than angle interlock weaves in tension and compression as they have less yarn waviness. For each types of 3D woven composites, the different ratio and spacing of binders led to different responses in failure mechanisms in the out-of-place direction [12]

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