Abstract
A meso-scale modelling framework is proposed to simulate the 3D woven fibre architectures and the mechanical performance of the composite T-joints, subjected to quasi-static tensile pull-off loading. The proposed method starts with building the realistic reinforcement geometries of the 3D woven T-joints at the mesoscale, of which the modelling strategy is applicable for other types of geometries with weave variations at the T-joint junction. Damage modelling incorporates both interface and constituent material damage, in conjunction with a continuum damage mechanics approach to account for the progressive failure behaviour. With a voxel based cohesive zone model, the proposed method is able to model mode I delamination based on the voxel mesh technique, which has advantages in meshing. Predicted results are in good agreement with experimental data beyond initial failure, in terms of load-displacement responses, failure events, damage initiation and propagation. The significant effect of fibre architecture variations on mechanical behaviour is successfully predicted through this modelling method without any further correlation of input parameters in damage model. This predictive method will facilitate the design and optimisation of 3D woven T-joint preforms.
Highlights
For 3D woven composite structures, especially for those with geometric features, the design space of their preforms is large with an enormous amount of variations in the 3D spatial reinforcement architecture
The damage onset of the type 2 specimen occurred later than the type 1 specimen leading to a higher initial failure load, and this feature resulting from the weave variation was successfully captured by the FE method
From the analysis of the test results, it was found that the difference in the initial failure loads was caused by different failure modes in the two T-joints: delamination was the main failure event for the type 1 specimen but it was arrested in the type 2 specimen due to the weave variation, instead resin damage initiated in the noodle area of the type 2 specimen
Summary
For 3D woven composite structures, especially for those with geometric features, the design space of their preforms is large with an enormous amount of variations in the 3D spatial reinforcement architecture. Understanding the influence of the fibre architecture of 3D woven composites on their mechanical properties is fundamental to the design phase At present this is mainly dependent on experimental testing [1,2,3,4], due to the lack of analysis techniques that are able to predict the resulting structural performance for 3D weave architectures, which restricts the application of 3D woven composites. A number of meso-scale FE models based on simple flat unit cells for the mechanical performance of 3D woven composites showing good agreement with experiments were reported [19,20,21], but most of them were not being validated for a different weave pattern to justify the predictive capability.
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