Geometrical modelling of 3D woven reinforcements for polymer composites: Prediction of fabric permeability and composite mechanical properties

Zeng, Xuesen; Brown, Louise P.; Endruweit, Andreas; Matveev, Mikhail; Long, Andrew C.

Abstract

For a 3D orthogonal carbon fibre weave, geometrical parameters characterising the unit cell were quantified using micro-Computed Tomography and image analysis. Novel procedures for generation of unit cell models, reflecting systematic local variations in yarn paths and yarn cross-sections, and discretisation into voxels for numerical analysis were implemented in TexGen. Resin flow during reinforcement impregnation was simulated using Computational Fluid Dynamics to predict the in-plane permeability. With increasing degree of local refinement of the geometrical models, agreement of the predicted permeabilities with experimental data improved significantly. A significant effect of the binder configuration at the fabric surfaces on the permeability was observed. In-plane tensile properties of composites predicted using mechanical finite element analysis showed good quantitative agreement with experimental results. Accurate modelling of the fabric surface layers predicted a reduction of the composite strength, particularly in the direction of yarns with crimp caused by compression at binder cross-over points. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Citation

Zeng, X., Brown, L. P., Endruweit, A., Matveev, M., & Long, A. C. (2014). Geometrical modelling of 3D woven reinforcements for polymer composites: Prediction of fabric permeability and composite mechanical properties. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 56, 150-160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesa.2013.10.004

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 7, 2013
• Online Publication Date: Oct 12, 2013
• Publication Date: 2014-01
• Deposit Date: Dec 7, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 14, 2019
• Journal: Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing
• Print ISSN: 1359-835X
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 56
• Pages: 150-160
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesa.2013.10.004
• Keywords: Mechanics of Materials; Ceramics and Composites
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1389086
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1359835X13002704?via%3Dihub