Ahmad R. Zamani and Luigi Sanguigno and Angelo R. Maligno
Finite Element Modelling of a 3D Woven Composite for Automotive Applications
546 - 552
2020
14
11
International Journal of Mechanical and Materials Engineering
https://publications.waset.org/pdf/10011601
https://publications.waset.org/vol/167
World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology
A 3D woven composite, designed for automotive applications, is studied using Abaqus Finite Element (FE) software suite. Python scripts were developed to build FE models of the woven composite in Complete Abaqus Environment (CAE). They can read TexGen or WiseTex files and automatically generate consistent meshes of the fabric and the matrix. A user menu is provided to help define parameters for the FE models, such as type and size of the elements in fabric and matrix as well as the type of matrixfabric interaction. Nodetonode constraints were imposed to guarantee periodicity of the deformed shapes at the boundaries of the representative volume element of the composite. Tensile loads in three axes and biaxial loads in xy directions have been applied at different Fibre Volume Fractions (FVFs). A simple damage model was implemented via an Abaqus user material (UMAT) subroutine. Existing tools for homogenization were also used, including voxel mesh generation from TexGen as well as Abaqus Micromechanics plugin. Linear relations between homogenised elastic properties and the FVFs are given. The FE models of composite exhibited balanced behaviour with respect to warp and weft directions in terms of both stiffness and strength.
Open Science Index 167, 2020