Evaluation of microdamage initiation in Z-pinned laminates by means of automated RVE computations

A computational approach is presented to generate such geometrical models. Resin-rich regions are modelled by initially straight discretized lines which are gradually shaped by a set of geometrical operations mimicking pin insertion, pin rotation and fiber deflection. Fiber distortion is modelled in a post-processing stage in cross-sections accounting for the preservation of the amount of fibers. These models are then transformed into finite element mechanical models in order to investigate how local fiber volume fraction changes, fiber misalignment, or distortions in reinforcement due to pin rotation, affect the global stiffness and local stress concentrations.