Multiscale Mechanics of Composite Materials and Structures

Abstract

Length scales found in fibrous composite and woven structures are modeled for reliable prediction of the overall response under various loads and local physical phenomena. Mechanical and thermal loads are considered together with plastic and viscoplastic deformations, piezoelectric and pyroelectric effects, and damage. Unidirectional fibrous composites and woven architectures are considered. Hence, the length scales modeled include micro-mechanics of fibrous composites, macro-mechanics of fibrous composite laminates, and 2D- and 3D-woven composites, and global structural length scales. In applications of this multiscale analysis, both the averaging models and periodic array idealizations are considered. The examples offered include analysis of fibrous laminates and finite element analysis of composite structures, with overall thermal and mechanical loads, electro-active fibers, and damage.