Meso-FE modelling of textile composites: Road map, data flow and algorithms

Abstract

Meso-scale (unit cell of an impregnated textile reinforcement) finite element (FE) modelling of textile composites is a powerful tool for homogenisation of mechanical properties, study of stress-strain fields inside the unit cell, determination of damage initiation conditions and sites and simulation of damage development and associated deterioration of the homogenised mechanical properties of the composite. Meso-FE can be considered as a part of the micro-meso-macro multi-level modelling process, with micro-models (fibres in the matrix) providing material properties for homogenised impregnated yarns and fibrous plies, and macro-model (structural analysis) using results of meso-homogenisation. The paper discusses stages of the meso-FE analysis and proposes a succession of steps (''road map'') and the corresponding algorithms for it: (1) Building a model of internal geometry of the reinforcement; (2) Transferring the geometry into a volume description (''solid'' CAD-model); (3) Preparation for meshing: correction of the interpenetration of volumes of yarns in the solid model and providing space for the thin matrix layers between the yarns; (4) Meshing; (5) Assigning local material properties of the impregnated yarns and the matrix; (6) Definition of the minimum possible unit cell using symmetry of the reinforcement and assigning periodic boundary conditions; (7) Homogenisation procedure; (8) Damage initiation criteria; (9) Damage propagation modelling. The ''road map'' is illustrated by examples of meso-FE analysis of woven and braided composites.

Multi-scale damage modelling of 3D woven composites under uni-axial tension

“…The dimensions of the tows are listed in Table 3 and the intra-yarn packing factors (V pf ) are listed in Table 5. To avoid interpenetration and skewed elements around the contact region, a thin layer of matrix (0.005 mm) existed between every two adjacent tows [20]. Since the unit cell is symmetrical and the periodical boundary condition requires a symmetrically surface mesh, only a quarter of the unit cell was built and meshed in Abaqus as shown in Figure 2.…”

The mechanical properties of human dentin for 3-D finite element modeling – numerical and analytical evaluation

“…[1][2][3][4][5] The FEM enables the modeling of very complex structures (e.g. teeth) and gives an accurate description of the local strain and stress inside the non-homogenous material.…”

Local strain in a 5-harness satin weave composite under static tension: Part II – Meso-FE analysis

“…In order to start the meso-FE simulations, construction of the unit cell geometrical model and translation into FE mesh is accomplished as explained in [14] and briefly described as follows : 1) variation of the internal yarn dimensions in the 5-satin weave composite is quantified using the micro-CT analysis; 2) along with the carbon fibre data, the obtained textile parameters from the micro-CT measurements (Table 1) are used as an input to the unit cell geometrical modeler software 'WiseTex' [6,15]; 3) finally, the 'WiseTex' generated unit cell geometrical model is translated into FE mesh and filled with the matrix mesh in the 'MeshTex' software [6].…”

“…Previous research work [4][5][6] in this area dealt with the FE analysis of a single unit cell using infinite laminate boundary conditions. However, comparison of the experimental strain profiles with the meso-FE strain profiles [1,2,[7][8][9] leads to the conclusion that it is difficult to achieve an exact correspondence between the ideal unit cell computational stress-strain profiles compared to the shifted (nested) and more complicated composite laminates used in the experimental analysis.…”