Theoretical prediction of stiffness and strength of three-dimensional and four-directional braided composites

Based on unit cell model, the 3D 4-directional braided composites can be simplified as unidirectional composites with different local axial coordinate system and the compliance matrix of unidirectional composites can be defined utilizing the bridge model. The total stiffness matrix of braided composites can be obtained by the volume average stiffness of unidirectional composites with different local axial coordinate system and the engineering elastic constants of braided composites were computed further. Based on the iso-strain assumption and the bridge model, the stress distribution of fiber bundle and matrix of different unidirectional composites can be determined and the tensile strength of 3D 4-directional braided composites was predicted by means of the Hoffman＇s failure criterion for the fiber bundle and Mises＇ failure criterion for the matrix.

INCLINED LAMINAL COMBINATION MODEL OF 3D BRAIDED COMPOSITES

As an advanced composite material, the 3D braided composite has received more and more attention in foreign countries. However, it has received less attention in China. The geometric unit cell which can describe the basic structure and the relationship between the braiding angle and geometric parameters of the fabric and fiber volume ratio are given in this paper based on two 3D braiding processes, namely, the four-step and the twostep ones. Several existing mechanical models to predict groperties of the 3D braided comPOsites are discussed and their shortcomings are pointed out herein. Then a new model called the inclined laminal combination model is proposed, which is based on the classical laminated plate theory and can predict the basic mechanical behavior of the two 3D braided composites with four-step or two-step braid. In the model, each yarn in the unit cell is regarded as an inclined laminate and then a 3D analysis is performed. It is found that the predicted mechanical properties of the 3D braided composites by the proposed model are compared well with the experimental data.

Effective Thermal Conductivity for 3D Five-Directional Braided Composites Based on Microstructural Analysis

A method for predicting effective thermal conductivities(ETCs) of three-dimensional five-directional(3D5D) braided composites is presented. The effective thermal conductivity prediction method contains a digital image processing technology. Multiple scanning electron microscopy(SEM)images of composites are analyzed to obtain actual microstructural features. These actual microstructural features of 3D5D braided composites are introduced into representative volume element(RVE) modeling. Apart from applying actual microstructural features,compression effects between yarns are considered in the modeling of RVE,making the RVE more realistic. Therefore,the ETC prediction method establishes a representative unit cell model that better reflects the true microstructural characteristics of the 3D5D braided composites. The ETCs are predicted with the finite element method. Then thermal conductivity measurements are carried out for a 3D5D braided composite sample.By comparing the predicted ETC with the measured thermal conductivity, the whole process of the ETC prediction method is proved to be effective and accurate,where a relative error of only 2.9 % is obtained.Furthermore,the effects of microstructural features are investigated,indicating that increasing interior braiding angles and fiber fill factor can lead to higher transverse ETCs. Longitudinal ETCs decrease with increasing interior braiding angles,but increase with increasing fiber fill factor. Finally,the influence of variations of microstructure parameters observed in digital image processing are investigated. To explore the influence of variations in microstructural features on variations in predicted ETCs,the actual probability distributions of microstructural features obtained from the 3D5D braided composite sample are introduced into the ETC investigation. The results show that,compared with the interior braiding angle,variations in the fiber fill factor exhibit more significant effects on variations in ETCs.

Yarn Architecture Analysis of Two-step 3D Braided Composites

A comprehensive study of yarn architecture of two-step rectangle 3D braided composites is presented. Firstly, the braided surface, the shapes of yarns and the intertwining between braider yams and axial yams are analyzed from experimentation. With the microstructure being defined, three levels of unit cell structure are identified, i.e. large unit cell, second unit cell and minimal unit cell. Secondly, based on the minimal unit cell in the interior and on the boundary of the entire cross-section, the deformations of axial yams squashed by braider yams contribute to the increase of the fiber packing factors of axial yams. Finally, the predicted fiber volume fraction of the composites decreases with the increase of linear density of the braider yam and the pitch length. Favorable correlations between the predicted and the experimental results arc found for six groups of the composites.

Electrical⁃Mechanical Coupling Behaviors and Thermal⁃Resistance Effects of 3D Braided Composites

Electrical-mechanical coupling behaviors and thermal-resistance effects of 3D braided composites under external loads are important for structural health monitoring(SHM). Electrical conductivity and electrical-mechanical coupling behaviors of 3D braided carbon fiber/epoxy composites under uniaxial tension were reported. It was found that the transverse resistance decreased and the axial resistance increased with the increasing braiding angle. The fractional change in resistance increased linearly as the strain was below 1.0%, and the nonlinearity appeared when the strain exceeded 1.0%. The negative temperature coefficient(NTC) effect was observed before the glass transition temperature Tg of epoxy resin, while there was a positive temperature coefficient(PTC) effect after Tg.

Statistical Model of the 3-D Braided Composites Strength

Based on the statistical model for the tensile statistical strength of unidirectional composite materials and the stress analysis of 3-D braided composites, a new method is proposed to calculate the tensile statistical strength of the 3-D braided compos- ites. With this method, the strength of 3-D braided composites can be calculated with very large accuracy, and the statistical parameters of 3-D braided composites can be determined. The numerical result shows that the tensile statistical strength of 3-D braided composites can be predicted using this method.

Tensile Properties of 3-Dimension-4-directional Braided C_f/Si C Composite based on Double-scale Model

The longitude tensile properties of 3-Dimension-4-directional（3D-4d） braided C/Si C composites（CMCs） were investigated with the help of a double scale model. This model involves micro-scale and unit-cell scale. In micro-scale, the tensile properties of fiber tows which involves matrix cracking, interfacial debonding, and fiber failure are studied. The unit-cell scale model can reflect the braided structure and simulate the tensile properties of 3D-4d CMCs by introducing the tensile properties of fiber tows into it. Quasi-static tensile tests of 3D-4d braided CMCs were performed on a PWS-100 test system. The predicted tensile stressstrain curve by the double scale model is in good agreement with that of the experimental results.

Effects of Microstructure on Quasi⁃Static Transverse Loading Behavior of 3D Circular Braided Composite Tubes

The effects of microstructure on quasi-static transverse loading behavior of 3D circular braided composite tubes were studied. Transverse loading tests were conducted. Transverse load-deflection curves were obtained to analyze the effects of braiding parameters including the braiding angle, the wall thickness, and the diameter on the transverse loading of 3D circular braided composite tubes. Breaking loads, moduli and strengths had also been used to describe the transverse loading behaviors. The failure morphologies were shown to reveal damage mechanisms. From the results, the increase in braiding angle, wall thickness and diameter increases the ability of anti-deformation and breaking load of braided tubes. The breaking load of specimen with a braiding angle of 45° is about 1.68 times that of specimen with a braiding angle of 15°. The breaking load of specimen with 4 layers of yarns is about 2.15 times that of specimen with 2 layers of yarns. The breaking load of the tube with a diameter of 25.5 mm is about 2.39 times that of the tube with a diameter of 20.5 mm.

Using Acoustic Emissions to Detect Damage in Three-Dimensional Braided Composites

Three-dimensional(3D)braided composites with better properties have been used in some particular industries.Some have had obvious signs of crack when they are braided.Others have had catastrophic failures occuring without warning.A new methodology for the analysis of failure modes in composite materials by means of acoustic emission techniques has been developed.The occurrence of fiber-breakage during tensile loading tests has been observed by the acoustic emission technology.Using acoustic emission technology is investigated as a means of monitoring 3D braided composites structures,detecting damage,and predicting impending damage.Some of the findings of the research project were presented.

Defects Recognition of 3D Braided Composite Based on Dual-Tree Complex Wavelet Packet Transform

Textile-reinforced composites,due to their excellent highstrength-to-low-mass ratio, provide promising alternatives to conventional structural materials in many high-tech sectors. 3D braided composites are a kind of advanced composites reinforced with 3D braided fabrics; the complex nature of 3D braided composites makes the evaluation of the quality of the product very difficult. In this investigation,a defect recognition platform for 3D braided composites evaluation was constructed based on dual-tree complex wavelet packet transform( DT-CWPT) and backpropagation( BP) neural networks. The defects in 3D braided composite materials were probed and detected by an ultrasonic sensing system. DT-CWPT method was used to analyze the ultrasonic scanning pulse signals,and the feature vectors of these signals were extracted into the BP neural networks as samples. The type of defects was identified and recognized with the characteristic ultrasonic wave spectra. The position of defects for the test samples can be determined at the same time. This method would have great potential to evaluate the quality of 3D braided composites.

Microstructure Analysis of 4-Step Three-Dimensional Braided Composite

The yarn architecture of 3-D braided composites products by the four-step 1×1 braiding technique has been studied by means of a control volume method in conjunction with experimental investigation and a numerical method, respectively. An ellipse assumption for the cross-section of yarn was proposed in this analysis method with considering the yarn size and yarn-packing factor. Two types of local unit cell structures were identified for 4-step braided composites by considering the nature of the braiding processes and by observing the sample cross-sections. The relationship between the braiding procedure and the properties for 3-D braided structural shapes was established. This method provides the basis for analyzing stiffness and strength of 3-D braided composites.

Elastic Modulus Prediction of Three-dimension-4 Directional Braided C_f/SiC Composite Based on Double-scale Model

Double-scale model for three-dimension-4 directional（3D-4d） braided C/SiC composites has been proposed to investigate its elastic properties. The double-scale model involves micro-scale that takes fiber/ matrix/porosity in fibers tows into consideration with unit cell which considers the 3D-4d braiding structure. Micro-optical photographs of composites have been taken to study the braided structure. Then a parameterized finite element model that reflects the structure of 3D-4d braided composites is proposed. Double-scale elastic modulus prediction model is developed to predict the elastic properties of 3D-4d braided C/SiC composites. Stiffness and eompliance-averaging method and energy method are adopted to predict the elastic properties of composites. Static-tension experiments have been conducted to investigate the elastic modulus of 3D-4d braided C/SiC composites. Finally, the effect of micro-porosity in fibers tows on the elastic modulus of 3D-4d braided C/SiC composites has been studied. According to the conclusion of this thesis, elastic modulus predicted by energy method and stiffness-averaging method both find good agreement with the experimental values, when taking the micro-porosity in fibers tows into consideration. Differences between the theoretical and experimental values become smaller.

A New Scheme and Microstructural Model for 3D Full 5-directional Braided Composites

Three-dimensional（3 D）braided composites are a kind of advanced ones and are used in the aeronautical and astronautical fields more widely. The advantages, usages, shortages and disadvantages of 3D braided composites are analyzed, and the possible approach of improving the properties of the materials is presented, that is, a new type of 3D full 5-directional braided composites is developed. The methods of making this type of preform are proposed. It is pointed out that the four-step braiding which is the most possible to realize industrialized production almost has no effect on the composites＇ properties. By analyzing the simulation model,the advantages of the material compared with the 3D 4-directional and 5-directional materials are presented. Finally, a microstructural model is analyzed to lay the foundation for the future theoretical analysis of these composites.

Numerical simulation on thermal expansion coefficient of 3D braided C/C composites

To effectively get the thermal expansion coef- ficient （CTE） of three-dimensional （3D） braided C/C composites and study the variations, a VC＋＋ program with graphical user interfaces was obtained, based on the yam unit model and numerical analysis. With the limited basic properties of carbon fibers and carbon matrix, CTE of 3D braided C/C composites is obtained at 85 ~C. The deviation between the simulated and exl^erimental axial CTE of 3D braided C/C composites is no more than 11%. The effects of different parameters （including the braiding angle of 3D braided preform, the fiber volume fraction and the porosity of 3D braided C/C composites, and the elastic modulus, Poisson＇s ratio and CTEs of carbon fibers and carbon matrix） were analyzed with the program. The results show that the axial CTE of C/C composites decreases with the increase of the braiding angle, the fiber volume fraction, and the porosity of 3D braided C/C composites. The transverse elastic modulus of carbon fibers has the greatest effect on the axial CTE among the studied mechanical parameters, followed by the elastic modulus and Poisson＇s ratio of carbon matrix.

Damage Simulation for 3D Braided Composites by Homogenization Method

In order to study the failure patterns and strength of 3D braided composites from the microscopic view, the damage propagation under tensile loading steps in three kinds of unit cells is simulated. The homogenization formula of micro-stress and the solving approach of finite element method are given firstly. A criterion is presented to determine the damage and its pattern of each element, and then the stiffness degradation method based on Murakami's geometric damage theory is used to simulate the status of damage under tensile loading steps for three kinds of unit cells. It can be seen that the damage percentage and damage pattern of damaged unit cell are totally different for different kind of unit cells. More damaged elements are observed for face cell and corner cell than that for body cell. It is also observed that the damage firstly occurs at the area of face cell, which agrees well with experimental results. It is verified that considering the effects of face and corner cells are important for the damage and strength analysis of 3D braided composites.

三维编织T300/环氧复合材料的弯曲性能及破坏机理

针对不同编织角、不同纤维体积含量、不同编织结构的三维编织T300/环氧复合材料进行了三点弯曲试验,获得了这些编织复合材料的主要弯曲力学性能,分析了不同编织工艺参数对材料弯曲力学性能的影响。对试件断口进行了宏观及扫描电镜观察,从宏、细观角度研究了材料的变形及其破坏机理。结果表明,三维编织T300/环氧复合材料具有良好的弯曲力学性能,弯曲载荷-挠度曲线呈现明显的线性特征;编织角、纤维体积含量及编织结构对复合材料的弯曲性能有较大影响;三维编织复合材料的弯曲破坏机理与编织工艺参数有关。

TDE—85#环氧树脂RTM工艺性研究

研究了TDE 85 # 环氧树脂的固化过程、粘温曲线、凝胶时间对三维编织树脂传递模塑法 (RTM )工艺注射温度和充模时间的影响 ,并测试了其力学性能 ,结果表明TDE 85 # 环氧树脂的注射温度为 5 0～ 90℃ ,适用期长达 8～97h 。

基于SQUID的复合材料承载电气特性

描述了三维编织复合材料的电阻测试基本方法,针对材料的特性,采用SQUID技术研究三维编织复合材料的电磁参数测试方法,分析不同载荷下材料的电阻、电磁变化规律。试验结果表明:三维编织复合材料的电气特性受制造参数和承载方式的影响,三维编织复合材料越厚,电阻值越小;表面编织角越小,电阻越小;纤维含量越高,电阻越小。承载状态下电阻在拉伸较小时呈现线性增加,当拉伸超过6%时,电阻呈现非线性增加,三点弯曲对电阻有着较大影响,加载时要比卸载时电阻、电磁量变化大。

Postbuckling behavior of 3D braided rectangular plates subjected to uniaxial compression and transverse loads in thermal environments

Postbuckling behavior of the 3D braided rectangular plates subjected to uniaxial compression combined with transverse loads in thermal environments is presented.Based on a micro-macro-mechanical model,a 3D braided composite may be treated as a cell system and the geometry of each cell is deeply dependent on its position in the cross-section of the plate.The material properties of the epoxy are expressed as a linear function of temperature.Uniform,linear and nonlinear temperature distributions through the thickness are involved.The lateral pressure(three types of transverse loads,i.e.transverse uniform load;transverse patch load over a central area;and transverse sinusoidal load)is first converted into an initial deflection and the initial geometric imperfection of the plate is taken into account.The governing equations are based on Reddy’s higher-order shear deformation plate theory with a von Kármán-type of kinematic nonlinearity.Two cases of the in-plane boundary conditions are also taken into account.A perturbation technique is employed to determine buckling loads and postbuckling equilibrium paths of simply supported 3D braided rectangular plates.The results reveal that the temperature rise,geometric parameter,fiber volume fraction,braiding angle,the character of the in-plane boundary conditions and different types of initial transverse loads have a significant effect on the buckling and postbuckling behavior of the braided composite plates.

复合材料齿轮弯曲强度仿真与试验研究

三维编织复合材料的性能与编织参数密切相关,为了研究碳纤维编织复合材料齿轮的弯曲性能及其与编织参数的关系,提出复合材料及齿轮弯曲性能预测模型。基于代表性体积单胞法和均质化思想建立复合材料的细观、宏观双尺度模型,采用体积平均法、借助有限元手段预测复合材料及齿轮的弯曲性能。并且,采用四步法编织及模压成型方法制备两对碳纤维编织复合材料齿轮,通过试验获得特定编织参数下复合材料及齿轮的弯曲性能。预测结果与试验结果吻合良好,验证了预测模型的准确性。最后,进行了多组编织参数下复合材料及齿轮弯曲性能的预测,得到了编织角和纤维体积分数对复合材料及齿轮弯曲性能的影响规律,并给出了使复合材料齿轮弯曲性能最佳的编织参数。