Title: Modelling and simulation of damage in woven fabric composites on meso-macro level using the independent mesh method

Authors: W.M. Van den Brink; G. Van de Vrie; M. Nawijn

Addresses: Department of Collaborative Engineering Aerospace Vehicles, National Aerospace Laboratory (NLR), Voorsterweg 31, Marknesse, Netherlands ' Department of Collaborative Engineering Aerospace Vehicles, National Aerospace Laboratory (NLR), Voorsterweg 31, Marknesse, Netherlands ' Department of Collaborative Engineering Aerospace Vehicles, National Aerospace Laboratory (NLR), Voorsterweg 31, Marknesse, Netherlands

Abstract: Composite material with woven architectures has become a common material in today's in-service aircraft with applications in primary and secondary structures. Within the research community the simulation of woven composites with its complex microstructures including undulations and fibre waviness is still an active topic. A common approach for simulation of these types of composites often includes homogenisation of the local fabric response (meso level) for macro level analysis and consequently losing the spatial variations in the laminate. In this paper, a modelling and simulation method is presented for woven composites on a combined meso and macro scale to preserve this spatial variation. The carbon yarns are embedded in the matrix material using the independent mesh method. This is combined with a progressive damage model for the yarns and plasticity for the matrix material. The results of the presented approach are encouraging and can be used to gather detailed information on the local stress state and damage in the woven structure and therefore a better prediction on higher levels in the structure.

Keywords: woven fabric composites; finite element method; FEM; simulation; independent mesh; meso level response; macro level analysis; composites damage; damage modelling; in-service aircraft; aircraft structure; microstructure; plasticity; local stress; woven structure; woven composites.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMATEI.2013.054389

International Journal of Materials Engineering Innovation, 2013 Vol.4 No.2, pp.84 - 100

Published online: 19 Jul 2014 *

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