Effect of weaving patterns on damage resistance of 3D woven jointless T and H shaped reinforcements

Abstract

Owing to the presence of yarns in three dimensions, 3D woven structures have better through thickness mechanical properties and find applications in aerospace, sports, construction, and automotive industries. Joining in thermoset composite is a complex subject and joints are the weakest part of a composite structure due to the discontinuity of fibers. One of the solutions to such problems is development of 3D woven jointless shaped fabrics. The current work aimed to investigate damage resistance of jointless 3D woven T and H shaped fabrics developed using four basic weaving patterns. These structures include orthogonal layer to layer (OLL), orthogonal through-thickness (OTT), angle interlock layer to layer (ALL) and angle interlock through-thickness (ATT). Four layered samples, having equal thread density, were prepared on Dobby loom using jute yarn. Testing was done on ZwickRoell UTM. The maximum force to rupture was exhibited by shaped fabric woven with OLL design followed by ATT, OTT, and ALL. The poor performance of ALL was due to the pulling out of stitching yarns rather than breakage. The least deformation against applied force was exhibited by the structure with OTT design, due to the presence of two truly vertical orthogonal binding/interlocking yarns. Furthermore, the OLL woven shapes showed the highest value of work done during fracture depicting its toughness as compared to the other multilayer shapes.