Homogenization of the finite-length fibre composite materials by boundary meshless type method

Abstract

The paper presents the process of homogenization of the composite material properties obtained by method of continuous source functions developed for simulation both elasticity and heat conduction in composite material reinforced by finite-length regularly distributed, parallel, overlapping fibres. The interaction (fibre–fibre, fibre–matrix) of physical micro-fields influences the composite behaviour. Comparing with finite element method (FEM), the interaction can be simulated either by very fine FE mesh or the interaction is smoothed. The presented computational method is a mesh-reducing boundary meshless type method. The increase in computational efficiency is obtained by use of parallel MATLAB in presented computational models. The stiffness/conductivity is incrementally reduced starting with superconductive/rigid material properties of fibres and the fibre–matrix interface boundary conditions are satisfied by the iterative procedure. The computational examples presented in paper show the homogenized properties of finite-length fibre composites; the thermal and elasticity behaviour of the finite-length fibre composites; the similarities and differences in composite behaviour in thermal and elasticity problems; the control volume element for homogenization of composite materials reinforced by finite-length fibres with the large aspect ratio (length/diameter). The behaviour of the finite-length fibre composite will be shown in similar the heat conduction and elasticity problems. Moreover, the paper provides the possibilities and difficulties connected with present numerical models and suggested ways for further developments.