Development and assessment of modelling strategies to predict failure in tow-based discontinuous composites. (1st February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Yizhuo; Pimenta, Soraia
• Is Part Of: Composite structures. Volume 209(2019)
• Page Start: 1005
• Page End: 1021
• Publication Date: 2019-02-01
• Subjects: Discontinuous reinforcement -- Strength -- Analytical modelling -- Multi-scale material; Composite construction -- Periodicals; Composites -- Périodiques; 624.18
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2018.05.128
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0263-8223

Abstract

Abstract: Tow-Based Discontinuous Composites (TBDCs) are a growing class of materials that combine manufacturability, light-weight, and high performance. This study proposes multi-scale modelling approaches to predict the tensile strength and failure envelopes of tow-based discontinuous composites, by representing the actual composite (with randomly-oriented tows) as an equivalent ply-by-ply laminate. Several modelling approaches are considered for the different scales, including (i) a stochastic bi-linear shear-lag formulation accounting for the random location of tow-ends and matrix cracking, (ii) a novel failure criterion for a discontinuous uni-directional ply accounting for the interaction between tow pull-out and transverse failure, and (iii) a ply-discount method or a maximum strain energy criterion for the final failure of the composite. The model computes full failure envelopes for ply-by-ply laminates equivalent to TBDCs within minutes, and the results show good agreement with experimental data.