Progressive damage modelling of 3D fully interlaced woven composite materials

Abstract

ABSTRACTA progressive damage model (PDM) was developed to simulate the mechanical behaviour and predict strength of 3D fully interlaced woven composite materials. The PDM was applied at the micro‐scale on a homogenised representative volume element (RVE) of the woven material created using the geometry pre‐processor software TexGen. The PDM consists of three modules, namely stress analysis, failure analysis and material property degradation. Stress analysis of the RVE was performed using the finite element method. Failure analysis within the tows was performed using a set of Hashin‐type failure criteria. Material property degradation in the failed elements of the tows was applied using a damage mechanics‐based strain‐softening law. The non‐linear mechanical behaviour of the matrix was simulated using a multi‐linear continuum damage model. The PDM was validated successfully against experimental results from the literature. The mechanical behaviour of the 3D woven composite material was fully characterised by loading the RVE into uniaxial tension and compression in the three axes, and shear in the three planes. The proposed PDM can be used to numerically characterise any type of 3D woven composite material. Furthermore, as the computed mechanical properties of the material are representative at the macro‐scale, they can be used as input to simulation of structural parts made from the specific composite material.