Geometrical modeling of yarn’s cross-section towards a realistic unit cell of 2D and 3D woven composites

Abstract

Due to the complex microstructure of textile composites, the modeling of physical properties is challenging. The mechanical properties of textiles depend on different geometrical parameters such as the yarn's geometrical properties, undulation, geometrical cross-section, gap between two adjacent yarns, and other parameters. In this paper, a geometrical modeling of 2D and 3D woven composites is presented. The novelty of this paper is related to a more realistic modeling of yarn's cross-section. The presented modeling technique takes into account that yarns constituting 2D or 3D woven composite do not have the same cross-section shape and undulated part as usually considered with an ideal unit cell modeling. The proposed technique leads to calculate the fiber volume fraction of yarns, then the fiber volume fraction of the unit cell of the studied composite. It was applied to different kinds of woven composites where the modeled unit cell converged to a more realistic shape.