Zihao Yang1, Junzhi Cui2, Yufeng Nie1, Yatao Wu1, Bin Yang3, Bo Wu4
CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.38, No.3, pp. 175-194, 2013, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2013.038.175
Abstract This study is concerned with the microstructural modeling and mechanical properties computation of three-dimensional (3D) 4-directional braided composites. Microstructure of the braided composite determines its mechanical properties and a precise geometry modeling of the composite is essential to predict the material properties. On the basis of microscopic observation, a new parameterized microstructural unit cell model is established in this paper. And this model truly simulates the microstructure of the braided composites. Furthermore, the mathematical relationships among the structural parameters, including the braiding angle, fiber volume fraction and braiding bitch, are derived. By using the unit More >