Predictions of elastic property on 2.5D C/SiC composites based on numerical modeling and semi-analytical method

In this paper, the predictions of elastic constants of 2.5D (three-dimension angle-interlock woven) continue carbon fiber reinforced silicon carbide (C/SiC) composites are studied by means of theoretical model and numerical simulation. A semi-analytical method expressing elastic constants in terms of microstructure geometrical parameters and constitute properties has been proposed. First, both the geometrical model of the 2.5D composite and the representative volume element (RVE) in both micro- and meso-scale are proposed. Second, the effective elastic properties of the RVE in 2.5D C/SiC composites are obtained using finite element method (FEM) simulation based on energy equivalent principle. Finally, the remedied spatial stiffness average (RSSA) method is proposed to obtain more accurate elastic constants using nine correction factor functions determined by FEM simulations, also the effects of geometrical variables on mechanical properties in 2.5D C/SiC composites are analyzed. These results will play an important role in designing advanced C/SiC composites.     

A stiffness volume averaging based approach to model non-crimp fabric reinforced composites

A representative volume element (RVE) based model to evaluate the mechanical performance of non-crimp fabric (NCF) composites has been developed and presented hereafter. By means of the stiffness averaging method, the modelling procedure is able to simulate the NCF’s elastic properties taking into account the effects of process-induced defects and final geometrical configuration. Microscopy analysis has been used to quantitatively evaluate the effects of tow waviness, stitching geometrical parameters and matrix porosity; these features have been included as sub-models into the final model. Numerical predictions have been compared to the results of tensile tests performed on composite coupons. A geometrical parameter characterising the undulation of the tows has been introduced and a sensitivity analysis has been performed on the model with different undulations.     

Micromechanical analysis of fuzzy fiber reinforced composites

A novel fuzzy fiber reinforced composite (FFRC) reinforced with zig-zag single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon fibers is proposed. The distinct constructional feature of this composite is that the uniformly aligned CNTs are radially grown on the surface of carbon fibers. Analytical models based on the mechanics of materials approach and the Mori–Tanaka method are derived to estimate the effective elastic constants of this proposed FFRC. The values of the effective elastic properties of this composite are estimated with and without considering an interphase between the CNT and the polymer matrix. It has been found that the transverse effective properties of this composite are significantly improved due to the radial growing of CNTs on the surface of carbon fiber. The effective properties are also found to be sensitive to the CNT diameter.     

Predicting dynamic in-plane compressive properties of multi-axial multi-layer warp-knitted composites with a meso-model

Proper prediction of material microstructure from known processing conditions and constituent material properties is a critical step to determine the bulk properties of the composite. This paper reports a meso-structure model of multi-axial multi-layer warp-knitted (MMWK) composites from an elastic–plastic material model considering the strain rate effect for the components of the MMWK composite. The representative unit cell (RUC) of fiber tow is created to obtain the elastic–plastic parameters of the fiber tow. The 3D meso-structure model of the MMWK composite is based on an idealized geometrical model according to the preform structure of the MMWK fabric. The model is used to investigate the effect of the volume fraction of the knitting yarn on the dynamic in-plane compressive properties. The results show that the fiber tow failure at large extent is mainly caused by the micro cracking of the matrix, and the effects of the knitting yarn on the mechanical properties of MMWK composite are very limited. Particularly, MMWK composites could be considered as laminates when the volume fraction of the knitting yarn is low, such as below 1.5%. Experiments were also conducted to validate the results from the simplified meso-structure model of the MMWK composite. The material is found to be strain rate sensitive, and the experimental and predicted results agree well with respect to the compressive strength and modulus of the composite. This confirms that the meso-structure MMWK composite model proposed is capable of capturing the essential features for the response of the composite under different strain rate conditions at the meso-level.     

Effects of interface characteristics on mechanical properties of carbon nanotube reinforced polymer composites

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) possess exceptional mechanical properties and are therefore suitable candidates for use as reinforcements in composite materials. To take full advantage of their exceptional properties, load sharing mechanisms needs to be understood in the composite materials. Load transfer in composites is achieved through the fibre/matrix interface. In the present paper, finite element method is used to investigate the effects of interface behaviour on carbon nanotube based composite mechanical properties. The effective nanocomposite mechanical properties are evaluated using a three-dimensional nanoscale representative volume element (RVE). In this RVE approach, a single nanotube and the surrounding polymer matrix are modelled. Two cases of perfect bonding and an elastic interface are considered. In addition, the rule of mixtures relations is used to validate the results of numerical models. The results indicate that mechanical properties of nanocomposite materials are significantly influenced by the interface strength.     

DYNAMIC INELASTIC RESPONSE AND BUCKLING OF METAL MATRIX COMPOSITE INFINITELY WIDE PLATES DUE TO THERMAL SHOCKS

SUMMARY

A micromechanical approach is combined with a structural analysis in order to investigate the thermally induced response and dynamic thermal buckling of infinitely wide plates composed of elastic-viscoplastic matrix reinforced by elastic fibres. The micromechanical analysis relies on the thermoelastic and inelastic properties of the constituents of the composite, and provides the instantaneous effective relation for the metal matrix composite at any point of the structure. The structural analysis employs the classical and higher-order plate theories in conjunction with a spatial finite difference and temporal Runge-Kutta integrations to generate the dynamic response of the plate. Results are given that illustrate the effects of the metallic matrix inelasticity, shear deformation, fibre orientation and initial geometrical imperfection on the dynamic response of the metal matrix composite plate subjected to various types of thermal shocks.     

Complete determination of elastic moduli of interpenetrating metal/ceramic composites using ultrasonic techniques and micromechanical modelling

The complete stiffness matrices of several metal/ceramic composites were analysed using the complementary ultrasonic spectroscopic techniques ultrasound phase spectroscopy (UPS) and resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS). Three different aluminum/alumina composites having complex interpenetrating architectures were studied: a composite based on freeze-cast ceramic preform, a composite based on open porous ceramic preform obtained by pyrolysis of cellulose fibres, and a composite based on discontinuous fibre preform. Six of the nine independent elastic constants describing orthotropic elastic anisotropy were pre-determined by ultrasound phase spectroscopy and used as initial guess input for resonant ultrasound spectroscopy analysis, making the final results of all nine elastic constants more reliable. In all cases, consistent and reproducible results are obtained. Finally the experimental results were compared with effective elastic constants calculated using micromechanical modelling and a good correspondence between both is obtained.     

三维编织复合材料理论研究进展

有关三维编织复合材料的理论分析研究归纳为:基于细观结构几何模型的物理性能研究和力学性能研究两部分.纤维体积分数是物理性能研究的最主要参数,力学分析以复合材料的弹性性能为主.合理的几何模型决定了力学性能分析与试验结果的一致性.建立在代表性体积单元尺度的几何模型应用最为广泛,得到了力学性能的试验验证.三维编织复合材料的力学性能的数值仿真主要以有限元方法为主,然而仅仅依赖于对其弹性性能的研究结果还远远不能满足三维编织复合材料作为关键结构部件的使用要求,建立完善的断裂准则是编织复合材料大量使用的理论依据.特殊形状的一次性编织复合材料的力学性能研究有待进一步深入.     

Fabrication of alumina short fibre reinforced aluminium alloy via centrifugal force infiltration

Abstract

A new casting process for fabricating short fibre reinforced metal matrix composites via the centrifugal force infiltration of fibre preforms with molten aluminium alloys is described. The effect of processing variables, such as pouring temperature, preheated mould temperature, and time of application of centrifugal force, on the infiltration kinetics and resultant microstructure is discussed. Composites having fibre volume fractions of 4·5, 8·0, 12, and 16% were obtained via this method. Comparisons with existing infiltration technology and the mechanical properties of the composite are presented.

MST/2000     

Influence of geometrical parameters on the elastic response of unidirectional composite materials

A numerical approach to predict the elastic properties of composite materials departing from the properties of the individual constituents is presented. Using a recently proposed algorithm which generates a random distribution of fibres emulating the real distribution in the transverse cross-section of composite materials, an estimate of the elastic properties is obtained by performing volumetric homogenisation of the results from micromechanical analyses. The influence of different geometrical parameters used in the generation of the random distribution of fibres is analysed, namely, the dimensions of the representative volume element, the fibre radius, and the interval between neighbouring fibres.     

Numerical modelling of oxidized microstructure and degraded properties of 2D C/SiC composites in air oxidizing environments below 800 °C

In this paper, a numerical model which incorporates the modelling of oxidized microstructure and computing of degraded elastic moduli is presented for simulation of the oxidation behaviors of 2D C/SiC composites exposed to air oxidizing environments below 800 °C. Regarding the multi-scale characteristics of 2D C/SiC composite, the microstructure modelling is carried out on microscopic and macroscopic scale, respectively to compute the degraded elastic properties in terms of time duration, temperature and pressure, whose influences upon the oxidation microstructure morphology and degraded properties of 2D C/SiC composites are also investigated. It is shown that the simulation models well the microstructure morphology after oxidation and numerical results are found to be in good agreement with experimental data.     

Effect of micro-randomness on macroscopic properties and fracture of laminates

Composite materials demonstrate a considerable extent of heterogeneity. A non-uniform spatial distribution of reinforcement results in variations of local properties of fibrous laminates. This non-uniformity not only affects effective properties of composite materials but is also a crucial factor in initiation and development of damage and fracture processes that are also spatially non-uniform. Such randomness in microstructure and in failure evolution is responsible for non-uniform distributions of stresses in composite specimens even under externally uniform loading, resulting, for instance, in a random distribution of matrix cracks in cross-ply laminates. The paper deals with statistical features of a distribution of carbon fibres in a transversal cross-sectional area in a unidirectional composite with epoxy matrix, based on various approaches used to quantify its microscopic randomness. A random character of the fibres’ distribution results in fluctuations of local elastic moduli in composites, the bounds of which depend on the characteristic length scale. A lattice model to study damage and fracture evolution in laminates, linking randomness of microstructure with macroscopic properties, is discussed. An example of simulations of matrix cracking in a carbon fibre/epoxy cross-ply laminate is given.     

纤维丝束带复合材料的有效性能预测与实验测试

依据纤维丝束带复合材料的相关几何结构参数值和所确定的纤维丝束带特征体积单元（RVE）模型几何结构尺寸,以有限元软件MSC.Patran/Nastran为平台建立纤维丝束带复合材料RVE有限元模型并在模型中置入相应的制备缺陷。各类制备缺陷的置入均采用删除网格单元的方法,置入裂纹型制备缺陷时偏移裂纹两侧单元相对面以获得当前裂纹宽度,置入孔洞型制备缺陷时尽量模拟其真实形貌。根据复合材料力学关于材料各性能参数的定义和细观力学基本理论推导了有限元计算细观力学（FECM）方法预测复合材料有效弹性性能和有效热膨胀性能的过程。根据FECM方法预测了不含制备缺陷、含单一制备缺陷和含各类制备缺陷时的弹性常数和有效热膨胀系数。结果表明:各类制备缺陷的存在均会使弹性模量和剪切模量减小,泊松比和热膨胀系数可能增大也可能减小。通过与实验测试结果对比分析可知,数值预测结果普遍比实验测试结果偏大,但总体效果较为理想,最大相对误差为6.04%。      

Modelling the 'universal' dielectric response in heterogeneous materials using microstructural electrical networks

Abstract

The frequency dependent conductivity and permittivity of a ceramic composite are modelled using electrical networks consisting of randomly positioned resistors and capacitors. The electrical network represents a heterogeneous microstructure that contains both insulating (the capacitor) and conductive regions (the resistor). To validate model results, a model ceramic conductor–insulator composite was designed consisting of a porous lead zirconate titanate impregnated with different concentrations of water. Excellent agreement between experimental and model data was achieved with a strong correlation with many other ceramics, glasses and composites. It is proposed that the 'universal' dielectric response of many materials is a consequence of microstructural heterogeneity. The modelling approach could be used as a simple and effective method for microstructural design of ceramics and other materials with tailored dielectric properties.     

A combined experimental–numerical approach for generating statistically equivalent fibre distributions for high strength laminated composite materials

A technique is presented where actual experimental distributions, measured from a high strength carbon fibre composite, are considered in the development of a novel method to generate statistically equivalent fibre distributions for high volume fraction composites. The approach uses an adjusted measure of nearest neighbour distribution functions to define inter-fibre distances. The statistical distributions, characterising the resulting fibre arrangements, were found to be equivalent to those in the actual microstructure. Finite element models were generated and used to determine the effective elastic properties of the composite and excellent agreement was obtained. The algorithm developed is simple, robust, highly efficient and capable of reproducing actual fibre distributions for high strength laminated composite materials. It does not require further heuristic steps, such as those seen in fibre stirring/shaking algorithms, in order to achieve high volume fraction microstructures and provides a useful alternative to both microstructure reproduction and random numerical models.     

ANALYTICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL MECHANICS OF WOVEN FABRIC COMPOSITES

SUMMARY

Mechanics of woven fabric composites are developed jointly by experimental laboratory tests and analytical models. The analytical scheme is based upon a micro- to mini- to macro-mechanics evolution which is representative of the relative physical scale. At the micro-mechanics level the interaction of an individual fibre with surrounding resin is evaluated by the composite cylinder assemblage (CCA) technique. Additionally, woven fabric requires a layered mini-mechanics analysis to evaluate the interaction of the undulated tows. Herein, we developed original and accurate three-dimensional surface equations to represent the fill and warp tows uniquely. Our approach eliminates the requirement of predetermining any elements in the stiffness matrices of the composite, and is a true three-dimensional representation of both the warp and fill tow undulation and cross-section. Finally, macro-mechanics analysis is used to represent the largest scale of the composite; the entire structure of the composite as stacked through the thickness of a plate or shell. The analytical predictions provide exceptional agreement when compared with experimental results of plain weave composites.     

Braided textile composites under compressive loads: Modeling the response, strength and degradation

This paper discusses the results of a finite element (FE) based micromechanics study of the compressive damage development mechanisms of 2D triaxial braided carbon fiber composites (2DTBC). The micromechanics based study was carried out on a Representative Unit Cell (RUC) size 3D FE model. The uniaxial compressive response was established using an arc-length method in conjunction with the ABAQUS commercial FE code. In this work, explicit account of the braid microstructure (geometry and packing) and the measured inelastic properties of the matrix (the in situ properties) are accounted for via the use of the FE method. This enables accounting for the different length scales that are present in a 2DTBC. This detail is necessary for developing a mechanism based damage prediction capability. The computational model provides a means to assess the compressive strength of 2DTBC and its dependence on various microstructural parameters. In particular, the dependence of compressive strength on the axial fiber tow properties and axial tow geometrical imperfections is discussed and shown to be significant in capturing the mechanism of damage development.     

等效介质理论数值方法应用于随机取向纤维复合材料的杨氏模量

本文运用了等效介质理论数值方法[4],计算单向纤维增强复合材料的弹性常数,进而透过Christensen & Waals[3]的一套平均公式,计算二维及三维随机取向纤维复合材料的杨氏模量,以探讨等效介质理论对此类材料的适用性.计算结果与基于Halpin-Tsai[8]式及Christensen[7]式的结果甚为相近,与实验值也有很好的符合.     

Mechanics of non-orthogonally interlaced textile composites

The present paper focuses on geometric and micromechanical modelling of non-orthogonal structures. Braided structure and sheared woven structures have similar interlacement geometry. However, tow wavelength in a woven fabric remains constant during in-plane shear, where as, in the case of a braid, tow wavelength deceases with an increase in interlacement angle. In the present work, lenticular geometry has been used for describing the unit cell geometry, and relations for various geometrical parameters have been derived. Three braided composite tubes with angles of 31°, 45° and 65° were prepared for experimental validation of geometric and mechanical models. Almost all the published work was based on orthogonal repeating unit cells suitable only for un-sheared woven structures. In this work, we identified a non-orthogonal representative volume element (RVE) that can deal with any interlaced tow architecture. Experimental results for three braided tubes were compared with the data obtained using modified laminate theory and finite element analysis.     

Effect of interfacial shear strength on reliability of strength and fracture process of SiC–Al composite

Abstract

A unidirectional SiC fibre reinforced pure aluminium composite was fabricated by the hot press method. Tensile testing of the SiC–Al was carried out to determine composite and interfacial shear strengths. A Monte Carlo procedure based on the elastic–plastic finite element method, involving the interfacial layer around the fibres, was constructed to simulate the tensile testing and to calculate the strength and Weibull parameters for the SiC–Al composite. The effect of the interfacial shear strength on the composite strength and its reliability is discussed. The results show that the composite strength and the Weibull shape parameter increase with increasing interfacial shear strength. The contribution of the interfacial shear strength to the composite strength and reliability is efficient when the interfacial shear strength is lower than the matrix shear strength. It is concluded that both composite strength and reliability are closely related to the fibre fracture process.