Multiscale progressive damage model for plain woven composites

In this paper, a novel multiscale progressive damage model is proposed to study the complex mechanical behavior and damage mechanism of plain woven composites. In the macroscale, composites are treated as fullscale model with three-dimensional solid elements. The mechanical response of element integration points depends on the mesoscale constitutive relationship, including orthotropic undulating yarn and isotropic matrix. Based on the microscopic representative volume element (RVE), the stress amplification factor (SAF) database is introduced to characterize the microscale stress state of the fiber and matrix. SAF is used to realize the stress correlation calculation from the yarn level to the micro level, and a progressive damage model based on the micro-mechanics of failure (MMF) theory is developed. Quasi-static tension experiments are carried out to validate the accuracy of the model, and the influence of meso-scale waviness and non-waviness constitutive models on the simulation results is compared. The results indicate the waviness constitutive model predicts are more consistent with the experimental results, and the prediction deviations about modulus, failure strength and failure strain are around 5%. The damage initiation of matrix in the yarn and pure matrix occurs successively, and finally the fiber failure is the main cause of catastrophic damage. Furthermore, the proposed multiscale method can be further used to predict the strength and damage of full-size woven composites under complicated loading.

Automated summary

A novel multiscale progressive damage model is proposed in this paper to study the mechanical behavior and damage mechanism of plain woven composites. The model considers the macroscopic behavior of composites by using three-dimensional solid elements and incorporates mesoscale constitutive relationships for the yarn and matrix. By introducing the stress amplification factor (SAF) database based on the microscopic representative volume element (RVE), a progressive damage model is developed using the micro-mechanics of failure (MMF) theory. Validation experiments show that the model accurately predicts the behavior of the composites in quasi-static tension. The proposed multiscale method can be further applied to predict the strength and damage of full-size woven composites under complex loading conditions.