A Multiscale Method Across Three Length Scales for Progressive Damage Analysis of Plain Woven Composites

The multiscale method based on the micro-mechanics failure (MMF) theory is modified with the clustering method so that the structure characteristics at the mesoscale and microscale can be reserved during the multiscale analysis. Then, with the analytical methods for the unidirectional laminates and woven composites, the equivalent properties and damage values at the macroscale can be obtained based on the state variables at the microscale. Combing the MMF method and analytical methods, the damage initiation and evolution processes of woven composites can be analyzed efficiently across three scales including microscale, mesoscale and macroscale. Progressive damage analysis of open-hole plain woven laminates under tensile loading is conducted to validate the established multiscale framework. The predicted results show that with the multiscale method, the macroscale behaviors can be predicted accurately and the damage states at the microscale and mesoscale can also be exhibited, which is helpful to reveal the failure mechanisms and optimize the internal structures of materials.