Progressive damage and nonlinear analysis of 3D four-directional braided composites under unidirectional tension

• Published in: Composite structures 2009-06, Vol.89 (1), p.126-133
• Main Authors: Guo-dong, Fang, Jun, Liang, Bao-lai, Wang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3D braided composites; Applied sciences; Composites; Damage model; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Fracture mechanics (crack, fatigue, damage...); Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Non-linear analysis; Physics; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Representative volume cell; Solid mechanics; Structural and continuum mechanics; Technology of polymers
• ISSN: 0263-8223; 1879-1085
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2008.07.016

A representative volume cell (RVC) is chosen to analyze the progressive damage behavior of 3D four-directional braided composites with large braid angle subjected to uniaxial tension. An anisotropic damage model is established by Murakami-Ohno damage theory. A new damage evolvement model is proposed, which is controlled by material fracture energy of braided composites constituents and equivalence displacements. According to the different damage modes (yarn transverse tension, compression and shear; yarn longitudinal tension and compression; matrix cracking), the different damage states and progressive damage of the braided composite are obtained. The numerical results show that the main failure modes of the braided composites are transverse tension, shear breakage of yarns and matrix cracking, which are in good agreement with the relevant experimental results in some literatures.