Investigation on the compressive properties of the three dimensional four-directional braided composites

The compressive mechanical properties of three dimensional (3D) braided composites are of key concern for design in actual engineering application. A representative volume cell (RVC) is chosen to study the uniaxial compressive mechanical properties of the braided composites with different braid angles by combing damage theory and finite element method. The fiber misalignment and longitudinal shear nonlinearity of braid yarn are considered in the computation model. And their influences on the compressive behavior of the braided composites are also evaluated. The damage development of constituents within the braided composites are obtained and analyzed. The main damage and failure modes and their interaction of braid yarn are provided as well. The numerical results are found that the compressive mechanical behavior of the braided composites with lower braid angle is sensitive to the fiber initial imperfection of braid yarn. The strength of the braided composites with different braid angle is controlled by the different microscopic failure modes.     

Meso-Scale Damage Simulation of 3D Braided Composites under Quasi-Static Axial Tension

The microstructure of 3D braided composites is composed of three phases: braiding yarn, matrix and interface. In this paper, a representative unit-cell (RUC) model including these three phases is established. Coupling with the periodical boundary condition, the damage behavior of 3D braided composites under quasi-static axial tension is simulated by using finite element method based on this RUC model. An anisotropic damage model based on Murakami damage theory is proposed to predict the damage evolution of yarns and matrix; a damage-friction combination interface constitutive model is adopted to predict the interface debonding behavior. A user material subroutine (VUMAT) involving these damage models is developed and implemented in the finite element software ABAQUS/Explicit. The whole process of damage evolution of 3D braided composites under quasi-static axial tension with typical braiding angles is simulated, and the damage mechanisms are revealed in detail in the simulation process. The tensile strength properties of the braided composites are predicted from the calculated stress-strain curves. Numerical results agree with the available experiment data and thus validates the proposed damage analysis model. The effects of certain material parameters on the predicted stress-strain responses are also discussed by numerical parameter study.     

编织角和承载方向对三维四向编织复合材料动态压缩性能的影响

利用分离式霍普金森压杆（SHPB）装置对三维四向编织碳纤维增强树脂基复合材料的动态压缩性能进行了研究。通过对编织角为20°、30°和45°的试验件分别进行沿纵向、横向和厚度方向的动态压缩试验,得到材料在800~2 000/s应变率范围内的应力-应变曲线,并与准静态压缩试验结果进行对比,研究了应变率、压缩方向及编织角对材料极限强度和弹性模量的影响。结合高速摄影记录的动态压缩过程,进一步分析了不同情况下材料的破坏模式与破坏过程。结果表明：应变率越高,材料的极限强度和弹性模量越大,材料在受压的三个方向上均具有一定的应变率强化效应,且高应变率下表现出比准静态压缩时更明显的脆性;编织角的改变对材料在三个方向上的动态压缩性能均有影响,其中对纵向的影响最为明显;不同方向受压时材料的失效形式不同,且准静态和高应变率下的失效形式也有区别。     

三维五向编织复合材料渐进损伤分析的数值方法

基于连续损伤理论, 推导了含损伤裂纹的正交各向异性材料的应力-应变关系。建立了考虑界面脱粘破坏的三维五向编织复合材料细观体胞模型, 并将有限元网格尺寸和单元裂纹尺寸引入损伤演化方程。采用Hashin准则和von-Mises准则分别判断纱线与基体的初始损伤, 结合Eshelby-Mori-Tanaka方法确定材料的刚度退化系数。利用ANSYS有限元软件对材料进行渐进损伤分析, 得到了材料在单向拉伸作用下的应力-应变曲线和极限强度。计算结果表明, 轴纱为材料的主要承力部分, 小编织角材料的破坏模式主要为纱线的拉伸断裂, 界面破坏情况较为严重。模拟计算结果与实验结果吻合较好。     

二维编织陶瓷基复合材料偏轴拉伸力学性能预测

基于二维编织C/SiC复合材料的细观结构,建立了碳纤维丝/热解碳界面/SiC基体和纤维束/表层SiC基体两种尺度下的细观单胞模型,通过有限元方法计算碳纤维丝/热解碳界面/SiC基体模型的等效弹性常数和强度,然后代入纤维束/表层SiC基体模型中计算,并引入Tsai-Wu失效准则,考虑不同失效模式的损伤,建立了二维编织C/SiC复合材料的渐进损伤模型,模拟了其偏轴拉伸应力-应变行为。针对该模型,阐述了二维编织C/SiC复合材料单胞模型在复杂应力状态下其纤维束的损伤过程。数值模拟结果与实验数据吻合较好,验证了模型的有效性,为该种材料的力学性能分析提供了一种有效方法。     

Shear mechanism modelling of heavy tow braided composites using a meso-mechanical damage model

Heavy tow braid reinforced composites are a potential substitute for metals in automotive and other transport applications. These composites, if properly designed, can provide lightweight efficient load bearing structural members that can also absorb high specific energy under impact and crash loading. Many of these components are ‘beam like’ members that must resist large transverse deformations at high force levels, thereby absorbing high levels of energy. This class of composite component is particularly considered in this paper.An effective means to achieve high energy absorption is careful design of the fabric architecture so that shearing mechanisms of the fibre/matrix interface, without premature fibre failure, are possible. Characterisation and modelling of progressive shear damage and failure occurring in biaxial carbon and glass braided composites are investigated. Fibre re-orientation and fibre/matrix interface damage is measured using an optical strain measuring method based on digital image correlation (DIC). This is then used to provide input to a meso-mechanical damage model in an explicit finite element code. A modelling approach using coupled layers of equivalent unidirectional plies is used to represent the biaxial braid composite and validation of the approach has been performed against test coupons and beam structures loaded transversally to failure.     

Tensile behaviour of multi-layered braided structures

Multi-layered braided structures are formed as a result of over-braiding the previously formed braids and they are increasingly being used for numerous applications ranging from hoses to energy absorbing composites. In this research work, a series of multi-layered braided structures were prepared on circular braiding machine for obtaining various combinations of braid angles of 30° and 45° in inner and outer layers. Subsequently, the tensile properties of multi-layered braided structures were analysed and it was found that the braid angle in the outer layer has significantly affected the stress–strain behaviour. A simple analytical model for predicting the tensile behaviour of multi-layered braided structures has also been proposed based on the previously developed model of ‘braid-elastic core’ system. A clear distinction has also been made between the helix and braid angles. Furthermore, a comparison has been made between theoretical and experimental values of braid angle, toughness and stress–strain characteristics of multi-layered braided structures.     

二维二轴编织复合材料几何模型及弹性性能预测

提出了二维二轴1×1和2×2编织复合材料的几何模型,模型考虑了纤维束的相互挤压及横截面的变化。基于细观分析和体积平均法,建立了预测二维二轴编织复合材料弹性性能的理论分析方法。数值结果与试验结果吻合,表明该方法行之有效,且具有运算快、精度高、适合工程分析等优点。分析了编织角、纤维体积含量和纤维束横截面形状对材料弹性常数的影响。研究表明,编织角对弹性常数的影响具有互补性,材料弹性模量与纤维体积含量成正比,纤维束截面形状变化对材料弹性常数影响不大。     

The effect of yarn distortion on the mechanical properties of 3D four-directional braided composites

A representative volume cell (RVC) is chosen to analyze the mechanical properties of 3D (3 dimensions) four-directional braided composites. Owing to braid yarns (an assembly of fibers) squeezing against each other in the braided composites, the braid yarns are distorted. Based on geometrical characteristics of the braided composites, cross-section of each braid yarn is supposed to be an octagon and divided into seven regions in the RVC. The distortion characteristics of yarns are considered in each region. Elastic properties of each region obtained by stochastic function theory are introduced into finite element model to calculate the mechanical properties of the RVC. The influences of yarn distortion on the stiffness and strength of the braided composites are obtained and discussed.     

三维编织玻璃/环氧复合材料梁的低速冲击和冲击后压缩性能研究

试验制备了三维编织四向结构、五向结构和六向结构的玻璃纤维预制件增强环氧树脂梁的复合材料试样,每种试样包含20°、30°和40°三个编织角度.研究了编织结构和编织角参数对复合材料低速冲击及冲击后压缩性能的影响,分析了损伤后的试样形貌及破坏情况.试验结果表明:编织参数对复合材料的损伤容限影响较显著;编织角相同时,五向结构具有较高的CAI强度,而六向结构则表现出较好的冲击韧性;编织结构相同时,30°编织角试样的抗冲击性能较好;同时,冲击后压缩试样表现出脆性断裂特征.     

三维四向大编织角复合材料的细观强度分析

编织角是影响三维编织复合材料力学性能的最重要因素.实验数据表明:大编织角复合材料在单向拉伸作用下的破坏形式较为复杂,其应力-应变曲线呈现非线性特性.本文建立了细观应力场的均匀化列式和有限元求解方法,运用该方法对三维大编织角复合材料的细观应力分布进行了数值模拟,结合相关的强度理论对材料进行失效分析,并进一步对材料的拉伸强度进行预测.强度计算结果与实验结果较为吻合.     

Asymptotic expansion homogenization for simulating progressive damage of 3D braided composites

In order to study tensile strength of 3D braided composites in the microscope view, non-linear progressive damages under tensile loading steps are conducted in this article. Micro-stress is simulated firstly by the method of Asymptotic Expansion Homogenization (AEH) combined with finite-element analysis. A criterion is approached to determine damage and its mode of each element, and stiffness degradation is implemented for the damaged elements with geometric damage theory. Furthermore, the tensile strengths are predicted from calculated stress–strain curves. From simulation, the damage mode for small braiding angle and large braiding angle is different at all. More damage elements are observed in face cell than in body cell. The tensile strength decreases with increase of braiding angle, but the fracture strain has different development. It is verified that 3D braided composites with small braiding angle have better strength but poorer ductility than the composites with large braiding angle.     

三向编织玻璃/环氧复合材料刚度性能

通过实验研究了三向编织玻璃/环氧复合材料的刚度性能 , 并考虑编织角和试件宽度参数的影响 , 探讨了拉伸和压缩刚度性能的差异。实验结果表明 : 在同一纤维体积分数条件下 , 随着编织角的增大 , 试件的纵向弹性模量有所减小 , 泊松比 (在编织角约大于 35° 时) 也有所减小 ; 宽度为两倍和三倍单胞宽度的试件的刚度性能基本相同; 试件的纵向弹性模量和泊松比远大于横向弹性模量和泊松比; 拉伸和压缩时试件的弹性模量和泊松比基本接近 ; 在横向拉伸和压缩时试件的应力2应变曲线具有明显的非线性特征。实验结果为编织复合材料结构设计提供了数据参考。      

立体多向编织结构对复合材料性能的影响

本文采用1×1,1×2和1×3三种不同的编织结构对轴向增强和非增强三维多向编织复合材料的性能进行了研究。对编织复合材料的拉伸强度、刚度和弯曲强度、刚度进行了实验分析。结果表明;三维编织复合材料具有良好的性能。编织结构对复合材料性能有较大的影响。纤维表面编织角和纤维体积比是影响复合材料性能的重要结构参数。通过轴向加入非编织增强纤维,使编织复合材料的拉伸强度和模量,弯曲强度和模量有了较大改善。      

Bearing behavior of triaxially braided flat and tubular composites

An experimental study was carried out to evaluate the bearing behavior of glass fiber reinforced epoxy composites made from the triaxial braiding process. The bearing strengths of braided and machined holes in flat as well as tubular samples were compared. The effects of specimen geometry, braid angle, and specimen consolidation condition were investigated. Comparison between specimens with braided and machined holes indicated a higher bearing capacity for the braided joint hole compared with the machined one in tubular specimens whose thickness was not precisely controlled. For flat samples with uniform thickness, the braided hole showed similar or even lower bearing capacity compared with the machined hole, possibly due to the disturbance in fiber arrangement around the braided hole.     

立体多向编织结构对复合材料性能的影响

本文采用1×1,1×2和1×3三种不同的编织结构对轴向增强和非增强三维多向编织复合材料的性能进行了研究。对编织复合材料的拉伸强度、刚度和弯曲强度、刚度进行了实验分析。结果表明;三维编织复合材料具有良好的性能。编织结构对复合材料性能有较大的影响。纤维表面编织角和纤维体积比是影响复合材料性能的重要结构参数。通过轴向加入非编织增强纤维,使编织复合材料的拉伸强度和模量,弯曲强度和模量有了较大改善。     

三维六向编织复合材料渐进损伤模拟及强度预测

基于三维六向编织复合材料的细观结构,假设第六向纱线的截面形状为菱形,建立了三维六向编织复合材料的渐进损伤有限元模型。采用Linde等提出的失效准则,引入周期性位移边界条件,对三维六向编织复合材料的纵向拉伸应力-应变行为进行了渐进损伤数值模拟,讨论了单胞模型在纵向拉伸载荷作用下的细观损伤起始、扩展和最终失效的演化过程,并预测了材料的拉伸强度。在此基础上,进一步研究了编织角、纤维体积分数和编织纱水平取向角等参数对材料纵向拉伸力学性能的影响规律。研究结果表明,三维六向编织复合材料的轴向纱线拉伸断裂是导致其破坏的最主要因素。所得数值结果与现有试验值吻合较好,验证了该模型的有效性,为更深入研究此类材料的力学性能奠定了基础。     

编织复合材料圆管准静态轴向压缩吸能特性的试验研究

通过二维三向编织复合材料圆管的轴向准静态压缩试验, 分析了编织复合材料圆管的压缩破坏机理和吸能特性, 并探讨了编织参数对吸能特性的影响。试验中观察到4种破坏模式: 分瓣破坏、 局部屈曲、 块状断裂和突发破坏。在纤维体积分数相同的情况下, 随着编织层数的增加和编织角的减小, 圆管的吸能能力有所提高。二维三向编织复合材料圆管是一种较好的吸能材料, 具有较高的单位质量吸能特性。      

三维编织复合材料压缩力学性能的实验研究

通过宏观压缩实验,研究了三维四向编织复合材料的抗压力学性能;同时,为了认识其压缩失效机理,对压缩试件的破坏断口进行了扫描电镜分析。实验结果表明:纵向压缩模量比横向压缩模量大得多;影响纵向压缩力学性能的主要参数是材料的编织角,随编织角的变化,复合材料的纵向压缩破坏机理发生了变化,编织角较小时,材料表现为脆性特征;当编织角大于某个角度,材料的应力-应变曲线趋于非线性,延性增加,更多地表现为塑性破坏特征。此外,横向压缩的破坏机理与纵向压缩明显不同。     

Multi-Scale Modeling of an Integrated 3D Braided Composite with Applications to Helicopter Arm

A study is conducted with the aim of developing multi-scale analytical method for designing the composite helicopter arm with three-dimensional (3D) five-directional braided structure. Based on the analysis of 3D braided microstructure, the multi-scale finite element modeling is developed. Finite element analysis on the load capacity of 3D five-directional braided composites helicopter arm is carried out using the software ABAQUS/Standard. The influences of the braiding angle and loading condition on the stress and strain distribution of the helicopter arm are simulated. The results show that the proposed multi-scale method is capable of accurately predicting the mechanical properties of 3D braided composites, validated by the comparison the stress-strain curves of meso-scale RVCs. Furthermore, it is found that the braiding angle is an important factor affecting the mechanical properties of 3D five-directional braided composite helicopter arm. Based on the optimized structure parameters, the nearly net-shaped composite helicopter arm is fabricated using a novel resin transfer mould (RTM) process.