Strength prediction of plain woven fabrics

The mechanical behavior of plain woven fabric composites under inplane loading is investigated using 3-D finite element analysis (FEA) in conjunction with a micro-mechanical model. The analysis incorporates both geometric and material nonlinearities. The use of finite elements facilitates accurate description of the geometry, i.e., the lenticular shape of the cross-section and the curvilinear profile of the yarns. Sandwiched between the yarns is a thin layer of matrix whose nonlinear shear response and local tensile failure mimic the anticipated slip and separation of the yarns. Intra-yam damage is treated using a simple micro-mechanical model installed at the integration stations of the FEA. The results of the analysis make it possible to spell out the dominant modes of failure under inplane tension, compression and shear respectively. Excellent agreement is found to exist between the results of the present analysis and currently available experimental results.