Investigating the influence of local fiber architecture in textile composites by the help of a mapping tool

Abstract

Standard approaches for the modelling and simulation of composite structures rely on the homogenisation of material properties on unidirectional plies. Doing so, simulations lose the ability to precisely describe local phenomena and complex failure mechanisms. In the research campus ARENA2036, the project DigitPro (Digital Prototype) develops a method based on a closed simulation process chain to take into account potential production effects by braided or woven composite structures. Starting from the process simulation, crucial information like fibre orientation and waviness is mapped on a target mesh for structural analysis. The resulting model is then investigated and potential needs to change the component’s geometry or the manufacturing process are detected. The mapping tool Envyo, developed at DYNAmore, offers various possibilities for the transfer of information generated from process simulation. Thus, it is necessary to investigate the impact of mapping algorithms and respective parameters on the structure simulation. The present paper details the mapping procedure for textile composites. The influence of local fibre architecture is finally investigated on a generic structure and compared to a standard approach.