Effect of fiber arrangement on shape fixity and shape recovery in thermally activated shape memory polymer-based composites

In the present study, we conducted periodic-cell simulations of the thermomechanical cycle of thermally activated shape memory polymer (SMP)-based composites. The present simulation utilizes a micromechanical model for reproducing the discontinuous fibers and SMP. We analyzed the effect of fiber volume fraction, fiber aspect ratio, and fiber end position on the shape fixity and shape recovery of the composite. The simulated results revealed that fiber elasticity is a key factor for the shape fixity of the composite, while both strain concentration near the fiber ends and fiber elasticity play important roles in the shape recovery properties of the composite.     

Resistance to delamination of 3D woven textile composites evaluated using End Notch Flexure (ENF) tests: Cohesive zone based computational results

The flexural response of 3D woven textile composite panels containing an edge crack is evaluated using the End Notch Flexure (ENF) test. In doing so, the effectiveness of 3D reinforcement in increasing and/or eliminating delamination is demonstrated. A finite element model of the ENF configuration using the Discrete Cohesive Zone Model (DCZM) was used to evaluate the deformation response and fracture properties corresponding to the experimental results presented in Pankow et al. (2011) [1]. A modified trapezoidal traction law was used in the DCZM to computationally evaluate the ENF test results. Good agreement between experimental results and predictions are reported, up to the point at which the crack reaches under the loading roller and damage begins to occur locally under the roller.