A Binary Model of textile composites: III high failure strain and work of fracture in 3D weaves

Prior experiments have revealed exceptionally high values of the work of fracture (0.4-1.1 MJm(-2)) in carbon/epoxy 3D interlock woven composites. Detailed destructive examination of specimens suggested that much of the work of fracture arose when the specimens were strained well beyond the failure of individual tows yet still carried loads similar to1 GPa. A mechanism of lock-up amongst broken tows sliding across the final tensile fracture surface was suggested as the means by which high loads could still be transferred after tow failure. In this paper, the roles of weave architecture and the distribution of flaws in the mechanics of tow lockup are investigated by Monte Carlo simulations using the so-called Binary Model. The Binary Model was introduced previously as a finite element formulation specialised to the problem of simulating relatively large, three-dimensional segments of textile composites, without any assumption of periodicity or other symmetry, while preserving the architecture and topology of the tow arrangement. The simulations succeed in reproducing all qualitative aspects of measured stress-strain curves. They reveal that lockup can indeed account for high loads being sustained beyond tow failure, provided flaws in tows have certain spatial distributions. The importance of the interlock architecture in enhancing friction by holding asperities on sliding fibre tows into firm contact is highlighted. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.