Dynamic Direct Numerical Simulation of Woven Composites For Low-velocity Impact

Abstract

This article describes a numerical low-velocity impact simulation with finite element models based on direct numerical simulation (DNS) on 3D orthogonal woven composites. The DNS approach is based on the concept that composites can be directly modeled considering their microscopic structures and each constituent's material property inside composite materials. Comparison studies with the classical approach based on the homogenized material property are carried out and these show that the DNS approach can cope with the limits of the classical approach which has difficulties in considering the inner microscopic structures. A few 3D DNS models are proposed in order to obtain intense understanding of the micro-geometrical effects of the matrix and yarns on the dynamic behaviors under impact. Deformation and internal stresses due to impact are investigated in detail at a microscopic level inside the materials. Furthermore, the multiscale model based on DNS concepts is also developed and analyzed taking into account micro and macroscopic structures of materials together.