MULTISCALE MODELLING AND SIMULATION OF 3D BRAIDED COMPOSITES USING FEMIXFEM

Abstract

In recent years, 3D braided composites (Mouritz et al., 1999; Li et al., 2007) have been widely utilized due to their excellent mechanical properties such as good energy absorbing capability, long fatigue life, high structural integrity, high torsion stability, controllable elastic modulus, superior fracture resistance, high strength and stiffness with a corresponding low weight. Due to these properties, they have been widely used in manufacturing of engine fans for aircraft engines, thermal protection nose cone, brake block, hot-end guard tile, rocket engine throat lining, rocket nozzle, truss joint, manufacturing of compressed natural gas vase, regenerating articular cartilage, etc. Classically, laminated composites are used when in-plane properties are of primary importance. However, they generally have poor through thickness properties which will cause delamination under low levels of load. To avoid these difficulties, 3D braided composites (Fouinneteau and Pickett, 2007) have been developed in order to improve the through-thickness behaviour. 3D braided composite is a combined product of the three-dimensional braiding technology and the advanced composite material technology (Tao et al., 2011). As the fibers in the preform cross each other (as shown in Figure 2.1), the integrity of the composition is good and the drawbacks like low intensity and easy lamination between layers (as in case of laminated composites material) can be avoided (Li, 2007; Reese et al., 1988; Crane and Macander, 1984).