On the potential of multiscale simulations for the virtual testing of carbon composites

Abstract

The simulation of composites at microscopic or mesoscopic scales has benefited from the improvement of finite-element methods and the continuous increase in computing power, leading to a better understanding of the local phenomena guiding the composite behaviour and failure. The improving reliability of the numerical predictions allows for a progressive substitution of experimental tests for the investigation of mechanical properties for the benefit of virtual testing. In the present study, a unit cell of woven composite is modelled on the mesoscopic scale, following the procedure detailed in [1]. In an early numerical stage, a finite-element model of the dry-fibre textile is generated in TexGen [2] and compacted in order to increase the rovings nesting. The meshing of the matrix embedding the rovings is performed in a second stage. Finally, the mechanical properties of the weave in tension, compression and shear are predicted by a unit cell simulation with periodic boundary conditions. Through the duplication of the unit cell, larger test specimens (e.g. in tension, compression or bending) are investigated and the influence of the specimen geometry and roving architecture on the measured properties is investigated. This paper discusses the possibility of a fully numerical investigation of carbon woven composites on a multiscale basis with the explicit finite-element software LS-DYNA.