Kinematic and mechanical response of dry woven fabrics in through-thickness compression: Virtual fiber modeling with mesh overlay technique and experimental validation

• Published in: Composites science and technology Vol. 207; p. 108706
• Main Authors: Daelemans, Lode, Tomme, Brecht, Caglar, Baris, Michaud, Véronique, Van Stappen, Jeroen, Cnudde, Veerle, Boone, Matthieu, Van Paepegem, Wim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Barking Elsevier Ltd 03.05.2021; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: A. Fabrics/textiles; B. Mechanical properties; Bending; C. Finite element analysis (FEA); Carbon fibers; Composite materials; Compressive properties; D. X-ray computed tomography; Digital element analysis; Fibers; Finite element analysis; Finite element method; Liquid composite molding; Mechanical analysis; Modelling; Simulation; Stiffness; Studies; Thickness; Workflow; Woven fabrics; B. Mechanical properties; C. Finite element analysis (FEA); A. Fabrics/textiles; D. X-ray computed tomography; Digital element analysis
• ISSN: 0266-3538; 1879-1050
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compscitech.2021.108706

The through-thickness compressive behavior of fabric reinforcements is crucial in liquid composite molding manufacturing processes. Predictive simulations of the compressive response are thus necessary to enable a virtual processing workflow. These are complex however, as the compressive behavior of the reinforcement fabrics is non-linear. Altough virtual fiber modeling has proven to be a strong kinematical tool, it cannot predict the compressive response due to the lack of bending stiffness in the virtual fibers. Here, we describe a solution that enables predictive compressive simulations through hybrid virtual fibers. It is based on an overlay mesh-element technique, combining both (i) finite elements that determine the in-plane fiber properties as well as (ii) finite elements that determine out-of-plane fiber bending. Using these hybrid virtual fibers, the through-thickness compression of a twill woven fabric ply is simulated and experimentally validated using both μCT-based as compliance-based measurements. Excellent agreement between simulation and experiment is obtained for the right set of input parameters. [Display omitted] •Bending stiffness of virtual fibers allows for a general textile mechanical modelling framework.•Virtual fibers with both tensile and bending stiffness are developed using a mesh overlay technique.•Model uses input parameters that are physics based.•Compressive response of single fabric ply is experimentally validated through in-situ μCT measurements.