Analytical study of strength and failure behaviour of plain weave fabric composites made of twisted yarns

A two-dimensional analytical method is presented for the failure behaviour of plain weave fabric composites made of twisted yarns. The studies have been carried out on laminates with different configurations under on-axis uni-axial tensile loading. The cross-sectional area of the yarn was taken to be elliptical and the yarn path was taken to be sinusoidal. Different stages of failure are considered in the analysis. It has been observed that there is no significant reduction in tensile strength properties of plain weave fabric composites as a result of twisting of yams. For E-glass yarns, twisting of yams up to 5degrees, cats facilitate ease of fabrication without significantly compromising the strength properties of the woven fabric composites. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.