Extension of a shell‐like RVE model to represent transverse shear effects in textile reinforced composites

Abstract

AbstractTextile reinforcements have long been used in shell‐like components like tires, belts, hoses and, in particular, air spring bellows. These bellows consist of a certain number of cords embedded in soft rubber, resulting in high membrane stiffness to absorb tensile forces and low resistance to changes in curvature. The embedded cords are produced by twisting multifilament yarns. Modelling and simulation of bellows is a challenging task. Thereby, the complex internal geometry, large deformations as well as the strongly anisotropic and nonlinear material behavior have to be taken into account in a computationally efficient manner. One approach is the application of multiscale analyses in conjunction with representative volume elements (RVE). Within this study, a through‐thickness RVE based on in‐plane periodic microstructures is applied. The local behavior of the cords is represented by an anisotropic constitutive model that regards directions and mechanical properties of filaments, which result from previous cord twisting simulations. In this contribution, an extension of the classical periodic boundary conditions (PBC) is presented, which considers curvature, pressure load, and, in particular, transverse shear. The RVE is used to simulate the stresses and strains in cord‐rubber composites under realistic load conditions. Moreover, it is employed for homogenizing the mechanical behavior and, thus, for developing a suitable constitutive model for shells.