Multi-scale progressive failure analysis of shear deformed woven fabric composites considering its pre-forming process

Abstract

In this study, in-plane shear deformation of woven fabric (WF) composite was predicted through finite element analysis during the forming process. For progressive failure structural analysis, fiber orientation, woven fabric thickness, and shear deformation were exported from the forming simulation results. For the multi-scale modeling, representative volume elements (RVE) were devised for each scale model (micro-scale and meso-scale). And the mechanical properties according to shear angle were predicted for the shear deformed WF composites. Strain invariant failure theory (SIFT) was applied to the multi-scale modeling to define the micro-scale fiber/matrix failure criterion. Finally, to verify the proposed multi-scale progressive failure model, progressive failure analysis was performed on the macroscale WF composites shape (U-shape and hemispherical shape) having various shear deformation. The proposed multi-scale model can predict not only the mechanical behavior of shear deformed WF composites, but also damage progression based on micro-scale fiber/matrix failure criterion.