Meso-scale and multicontinuum modeling of a triaxial braided textile composite

Abstract

Accurately predicting failure in woven composites requires knowledge of the stress states within the meso-scale structure of the fabric reinforcement. Multicontinuum technology provides a computationally efficient way of extracting constituent stresses and strains from a structural-level finite element analysis. This study investigates the value in extending the capabilities of multicontinuum technology to materials with complex heterogeneity that could benefit from the definition of many constituents. To determine the feasibility of this extension, a meso-scale finite element model of a triaxial braid was developed and used as a test case. The model’s predictions of initial matrix failure were in good agreement with the limited experimental data. Also, trends in initial failure predictions for multi-axial load cases are in agreement with physically intuitive expectations. These results show promise for the success of future research in extending multicontinuum technology for application to composites with complex multiscale heterogeneity.