Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
7215627 | Composites Science and Technology | 2014 | 7 Pages |
Abstract
Scatter in composite mechanical properties is related to variabilities occurring at different scales. This work attempts to analyse fibre strength variability numerically from micro to macro-scale taking into account the size effect and its transition between scales. Two micro-mechanical models based on the Weibull distribution were used within meso-scale finite element models of fibre bundles which were validated against experimental results. These models were then implemented in a meso-scale model of an AS4 carbon fibre plain weave/vinyl ester textile composite. Monte Carlo simulations showed that fibre strength variability has a limited effect on the strength of the textile composite at the meso-scale and introduces variability of less than 2% from the mean value. Macro-scale strength based on the predicted meso-scale distribution was lower than the strength of the composite without variability by 1-4% depending on the model. The presented multi-scale approach demonstrates that a wide fibre strength distribution leads to a narrow distribution of composite strength and a shift to lower mean values.
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Engineering (General)
Authors
M.Y. Matveev, A.C. Long, I.A. Jones,