Bearing Abilities and Progressive Damage Analysis of Three Dimensional Four-Directional Braided Composites with Cut-Edge

Cut-edge is a kind of damage for the three-dimensional four-directional (3D4d) braided composites which is inevitable because of machining to meet requisite shape and working in the abominable environment. The longitudinal tensile experiment of the 3D4d braided composites with different braiding angles between cut-edge and the ones without cut-edge was conducted. Then representative volume cell (RVC) with interface zones was established to analyze the tensile properties through the fracture and damage mechanics. The periodic boundary conditions under the cut-edge and uncut-edge conditions were imposed to simulate the failure mechanism. Stress-strain distribution and the damage evolution nephogram in cut-edge condition were conducted. Numerical results were coincident with the experimental results. Finally the variation of cut-edge effect with the specimen thickness was simulated by superimposing inner cells. The consequence showed that thickness increase can effectively reduce cut-edge influence on longitudinal strength for 3D4d braided composites. Cut-edge simulation of braided composites has guiding significance on the actual engineering application.