Numerical Estimation Method of Orthotropic Material Properties of a Roving for Reinforcement of Composite Materials

Knowledge of the material properties is important at machine design from composite materials. This information cannot be found in related literature and is not standard, therefore, it was necessary to determine, by measurements and by basic experiments of the mechanics of materials. This paper presents a new 3D finite element (FE) model-cell for the modeling of the material properties of a roving. By this numerical modeling method, one can determine the orthotropic and macroscopic material properties of a roving. This model-cell, models numerically, a roving, which consists of multiples of thousands of fibers that are embedded in a matrix material, as a homogenized orthotropic material. The numerical results of the material properties of the roving, can be applied to the definition of the macroscopic material properties of fiber reinforced composite laminates.