Generic stiffness model for 3D woven orthogonal hybrid composites

Due to developments in the advanced 3D textile composite materials, it has become possible to tailor their mechanical properties by either placing the reinforcing fibers in a particular direction or mixing the fibers of superior mechanical properties with fibers of nominal mechanical properties in a certain ratio. The latter process is well known as reinforcing material hybridization. The mixing of reinforcing materials incurs cost due to fibers of superior mechanical properties and adds complexities in determining the macroscopic mechanical properties. The present paper proposes a methodology named as Generic Stiffness Model (GS-Model) to predict the engineering elastic constants of hybrid composites, taking 3D woven orthogonal hybrid composite as a baseline. A sensitivity study about reinforcing material hybridization has also been conducted in order to determine the net effect on the elastic properties of 3D woven orthogonal hybrid composite. The GS-Model and material hybridization study can be a useful tool for designers and manufacturers of composite materials to help them in the designing and selection of appropriate material for a specific application. (C) 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.