Microscale finite element model of brittle multifilament yarn failure behavior

Abstract

A microscale model of multifilament reinforcement yarns made of technical carbon fibers is established based on the finite element method. The model is used to perform simulations of tensile failure. The failure behavior of dry multifilament carbon yarns is modeled using a maximum stress criterion with statistical distribution of the strength. The maximum stress is assigned to every single element and varied according to a normal distribution found in experimental tests of single filaments. The Weibull distribution is used for calculating the local failure stress. The material parameters are calculated in function of the element size to account for the volume-specific statistical breaking effect. Representative simulations of the tensile failure behavior prove the concept of the introduced assumptions.