Progressive tensile damage simulation and strength analysis of three-dimensional braided composites based on three unit-cells models

Abstract

In order to explore the micro-failure mechanism and predict tensile strength of three-dimensional braided composites, the three unit-cells models, namely interior cell, surface cell and corner cell, are established to simulate progressive damage of these materials. Macro model is firstly created and divided into three kinds of unit cells by their periodical distributions. A criterion is approached to determine damage and its pattern of each element, and stiffness degradation is implemented for the damaged elements with geometric damage theory. Periodical boundary conditions are applied on the models to calculate micro-stress and damage propagation is simulated with the increase of load. Each type of damage and its percentage is obtained by simulation and micro-failure mechanism is analyzed. Furthermore, the tensile strengths are predicted from calculated stress–strain curves. From simulation, composites with large braiding angle have more complicated micro-failure mechanism than composites with small braiding angle. It is also observed that there are more damages in surface cell than in interior cell and the damage types in the surface cell are various. The predicted results on the three unit-cells models agree well with the experimental data and are more accurate than only using an interior-cell model.

Keywords

Braided composites three unit-cells damage strength finite-element analysis

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Yang

Chou

. Fiber inclination model of three dimensional textile structural composites. J Compos Mater 1986; 20: 472–484.

Three-dimensional fabrics for composites-an introduction to the magnaweave structure. In: Chou

(eds). Proceedings of the ICCM-4 Japan Society Composites Material, Tokyo, Japan, 1982, pp. 1609–1619 1982, pp. 1609–1619.

Kalidinli

Abusafieh

. Longitudinal and transverse moduli and strengths of 3-D braided textile composites with low braid angles. J Compos Mater 1996; 30: 885–905.

Chen

Tao

Choy

. On the microstructure of three-dimensional braided preforms. Compos Sci Technol 1999; 59: 391–404.

. Three-cell model and 5D braided structural composites. Compos Sci Technol 1996; 56: 225–233.

Chen

et al.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of three-dimensional five-directional braided composites. Int J Solids Struct 2009; 46: 3422–3432.

Zhang

. Finite element analysis of 3D braided composites based on three unit-cells models. Compos Struct 2013; 98: 130–142.

Qian

. A new analytical model on predicting the elastic properties of 3D full five-directional braided composites based on a multiunit cell model. Compos B 2015; 83: 242–252.

Qian

. Microstructure analysis and multi-unit cell model of three dimensionally four-directional braided composites. Appl Compos Mater 2015; 22: 29–50.

10.

Dong

Feng

. Damage simulation for 3D braided composites by homogenization method. Chinese J Aeronaut 2010; 23: 677–685.

11.

Sun

Zhang

et al.

Micromechanics of braided composites via multivariable FEM. Comput Struct 2003; 81: 2021–2027.

12.

Jiang

Zeng

Yan

et al.

Theoretical prediction on the mechanical properties of 3D braided composites using a helix geometry model. Compos Struct 2013; 100: 511–516.

13.

Fang

Jiang

et al.

Finite element modeling of mechanical properties of 3D five-directional rectangular braided composites. Compos B 2011; 42: 1373–1385.

14.

Fang

Liang

Wang

et al.

The effect of yarn distortion on the mechanical properties of 3D four-directional braided composites. Compos A 2009; 40: 343–350.

15.

Shokrieh

Mazloomi

. A new analytical model for calculation of stiffness of three-dimensional four-directional braided composites. Compos Struct 2012; 94: 1005–1015.

16.

Zeng

Guo

. Mechanical analysis of 3D braided composites: a finite element model. Compos Struct 2004; 64: 399–404.

17.

Zeng

Fang

et al.

Predicting the nonlinear response and failure of 3D braided composites. Mater Lett 2004; 58: 3237–3241.

18.

Pang

Han

et al.

Nonlinear behavior of the constitutive simulation of meso-scopic computational mechanics for three-dimensional multi-directional braided composites. Acta Materiae Compositae Sinica 2000; 17: 98–102.

19.

Fang

Liang

Wang

. Progressive damage and nonlinear analysis of 3D four-directional braided composites under unidirectional tension. Compos Struct 2009; 89: 126–133.

20.

Fang

Liang

et al.

Wang. Investigation on the compressive properties of the three dimensional four-directional braided composites. Compos Struct 2011; 93: 392–405.

21.

Dong

Feng

. Asymptotic expansion homogenization for simulating progressive damage of 3D braided composites. Compos Struct 2010; 92: 873–882.

22.

. Nonlinear numerical analysis of progressive damage of 3D braided composites. Chinese J Theoretic Appl Mech 2007; 39: 398–407.

23.

Zhang

Guo

. Damage and failure mechanism analysis of 3D five-directional braided composites with interface debonding under unidirectional tension. J Aeronautic Mater 2011; 31: 73–80.

24.

Xia

Yang

. Investigation on the tensile properties of three-dimensional full five-directional braided composites. Computat Mater Sci 2013; 77: 445–455.

25.

Chamis

. Simplified composites micromechanics equations for strength, fracture toughness, impact resistance and environmental effects ▪▪. NASA TM-83696, NASA, Washington, DC, USA, 1984.

26.

Xia

Zhang

Ellyin

. A unified periodical boundary conditions for representative volume elements of composites and applications. Int J Solids Struct 2003; 40: 1907–1921.

27.

Murakami

Ohno

. A creep damage tensor for microscopic cavities. Trans Jpn Soc Mech Eng 1980; 46: 940–946.

28.

Xiu YS. Numerical analysis of mechanical properties of 3D four-step braided composites. MS Thesis, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin, China, 2000.