Strain rate effects of tensile behaviors of 3-D orthogonal woven fabric: Experimental and finite element analyses

The tensile behaviors of 3-D woven fabric under high strain-rate states, i.e. tensile impact behaviors, are important for the design of the fabrics and the reinforced composites under impulsive loading. This paper reports the testing and the numerical simulation of the impact tension behaviors of 3-D woven fabric under high strain rates compared with those under quasi-static tension. The tensile behaviors of 3-D orthogonal woven fabric (3DOWF) were investigated using a MTS 810.23 material testing system and a self-designed split Hopkinson tension bar apparatus, under a wide range of strain rates (0.003-2308/s). The tensile stress-strain curves obtained from the quasi-static and high strain rates were used to analyze the rate-sensitivity of 3DOWF tensile behaviors. It was found that both the tensile strength and the failure strain increased with increases in the strain rate. The two-phase tensile stiffness phenomenon of 3DOWF under high strain rates has been observed experimentally. A microstructure model combined with finite element analysis was established to explain the tensile failure mechanisms of 3DOWF under high strain rates. It was found that the fabric architecture influences the stress wave propagation, thus leading to the two-phase tensile stiffness phenomenon in the stress-strain curve under high strain-rate tensions.