Micro Mechanical Model of 3D Woven Composites

A combined beam model representing the periodicity of the microstructure and micro deformation of 3D woven composites is developed for predicting mechanical properties. The model considers the effects of off axial tension/compression and bending/shearing couplings as well as the mutual reactions of fiber yarns. The method determining microstructure by using woven parameters is described for a typical 3D woven composite material. An analytical cell, constructed by a minimum periodic section of yarn and interlayer matrix, is adopted. Micro stresses in the cell under in plane tensile loading are obtained by using the proposed beam model and macro modulus is then obtained by the averaging method. Material tests and a 2D micro FEM analysis are made to evaluate this model. Analyses reveal that micro stress caused by tensile/bending coupling effect is not negligible in the stress analysis.