Multi-Scale Continuum Mechanics Modelling of Fibre-Reinforced Polymer Composites

Multi-scale modelling of composites is a very relevant topic in composites science. This is illustrated by the numerous sessions in the recent European and International Conferences on Composite Materials, but also by the fast developments in multi-scale modelling software tools, developed by large industrial players such as Siemens (Virtual Material Characterization toolkit and MultiMechanics virtual testing software), MSC/e-Xstream (Digimat software), Simulia (micromechanics plug-in in Abaqus), HyperSizer (Multi-scale design of composites), Altair (Altair Multiscale Designer)

This book is intended to be an ideal reference on the latest advances in multi-scale modelling of fibre-reinforced polymer composites, that is accessible for both (young) researchers and end users of modelling software. We target three main groups:

This book aims at a complete introduction and overview of the state-of-the-art in multi-scale modelling of composites in three axes:

. ranging from prediction of homogenized elastic properties to nonlinear material behaviour

. ranging from geometrical models for random packing of unidirectional fibres over meso-scale geometries for textile composites to orientation tensors for short fibre composites

. ranging from damage modelling of unidirectionally reinforced composites over textile composites to short fibre-reinforced composites

The book covers the three most important scales in multi-scale modelling of composites: (i)?micro-scale, (ii) meso-scale and (iii) macro-scale. The nano-scale and related atomistic and molecular modelling approaches are deliberately excluded, since the book wants to focus on continuum mechanics and there are already a lot of dedicated books about polymer nanocomposites.

A strong focus is put on physics-based damage modelling, in the sense that the chapters devote attention to modelling the different damage mechanisms (matrix cracking, fibre/matrix debonding, delamination, fibre fracture,.) in such a way that the underlying physics of the initiation and growth of these damage modes is respected.

The book also gives room to not only discuss the finite element based approaches for multi-scale modelling, but also much faster methods that are popular in industrial software, such as Mean Field Homogenization methods (based on Mori-Tanaka and Eshelby solutions) and variational methods (shear lag theory and more advanced theories).

Since the book targets a wide audience, the focus is put on the most common numerical approaches that are used in multi-scale modelling. Very specialized numerical methods like peridynamics modelling, Material Point Method, eXtended Finite Element Method (XFEM), isogeometric analysis, SPH (Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics),. are excluded.

Outline of the book

The book is divided in three large parts, well balanced with each a similar number of chapters:

• Part I deals with all "ingredients" to start with multi-scale modelling, limited to elastic property prediction. This typically includes: (i) setting up your geometrical model at micro- or meso-scale (definition of Representative Volume Element (RVE) or Repeating Unit Cell (RUC)), (ii) definition of periodic boundary conditions, (iii) homogenization of the elastic properties, starting from the elastic properties of the constituents, (iv) importance of statistical representation of geometry and stochastic nature of fibre architecture. This should bring all readers at the same level of principles and terminology for multi-scale modelling. Advanced users could eventually skip this first part.

• Part II deals with nonlinear multi-scale modelling. We build further upon the ingredients from Part I, but now add all kinds of nonlinearities to the simulation at micro- or meso-scale (matrix cracking, delamination, fibre/matrix debonding, delamination, fibre failure, visco-elasto-plasticity-damage of the

  Autorentext
  Wim Van Paepegem is full professor and head of the research group "Mechanics of Materials and Structures" at Ghent University in Belgium. The group's research is focussed on experimental and computational mechanics of fibre-reinforced composites, polymers, foams and additively manufactured polymers and metals, as well as non-destructive testing of those materials. Wim Van Paepegem has published more than 240 peer-reviewed Science Citation Index (SCI) journal papers in these research domains. He is serving as an Editorial Board Member for the international journals "Composites Part B" and "Composites Science and Technology" (both top-ranked in composite field), "Polymer Testing" and "Fatigue and Fracture of Engineering Materials and Structures". He has already received five personal awards for his academic achievements, including the "Best Young Researcher" award from the European Society for Composite Materials, the UGent Prometheus award for research and the Laureate prize of the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and Arts. He is currently involved in more than twenty European, national, regional and bilateral research projects and over the last five years, four spin-off companies have been initiated out of his research group. Prof. Van Paepegem is also coordinator of the UGent valorization consortium for composite materials.

  Inhalt

  1. Multiscale Framework. Concept of Geometry, Materials, Load Conditions and Homogenization
     David Garoz Gómez
  2. Micro-scale Representative Volume Element - Generation and Statistical Characterisation
     António R. Melro and Riccardo Manno
  3. Geometry modelling and elastic property prediction for short fiber composites
     Jörg Hohe
  4. Modelling approaches for constructing the geometry of textiles at the meso-scale level
     Yordan Kyosev
  5. Construction of Representative Unit Cells for FE analysis of Textile Composite Plies
     R.D.B. Sevenois
  6. Detailed comparison of analytical and FE-based homogenization approaches for fiber-reinforced composites
     Sergey G. Abaimov, Iskander Akhatov, Stepan V. Lomov
  7. Applications of Maxwell's methodology to the prediction of the effective properties of composite materials
     L.N. McCartney
  8. Modelling nonlinear material response of polymer matrices used in fiber-reinforced composites
     F. A. Gilabert
  9. Modelling fibre/matrix interface debonding and matrix cracking in composite laminates
     F. París, M.L. Velasco, E. Correa
  10. Modeling Defect Severity for Failure Analysis of Composites
      Ramesh Talreja
  11. Micromechanical modelling of interlaminar damage propagation and migration
      L.F. Varandas, G. Catalanotti, A. Arteiro, A.R. Melro and B.G. Falzon
  12. Modelling the longitudinal failure of fibre-reinforced composites at micro-scale
      G. Catalanotti, L.F. Varandas, A.R. Melro, T.A. Sebaey, M.A. Bessa and B.G. Falzon
  13. Multi-scale modelling and experimental observation of transverse tow cracking and debonding in textile composites
      Martin Hirsekorn
  14. Experimental-Numerical Characterization of the Non-linear Microstructural Behavior of Fiber Reinforced Polymer Structures
      Michael Schober, Kerstin Dittmann, Peter Gumbsch, Jörg Hohe
  15. Virtual identification of macroscopic material laws from lower scales
      David Garoz Gómez
  16. Modeling Damage Evolution in Multidirectional Laminates: Micro to Macro
      John Montesano and Farzad Sharifpour
  17. Physics-based methodology for predicting ply cracking and laminate failure in symmetric composite laminates under multiaxial loading condition
      M. Hajikazemi
  18. Meso-scale modeling of delamination using the cohesive zone model approach
      Laura Carreras, Gerard Guillamet, Adrià Quintanas-Corominas, Jordi Renart, Albert Turon
  19. Stochastic Virtual Testing Laboratory for unidirectional composite coupons. From conventional to dispersed-plylaminates
      Cläudio S. Lopes, David Garoz Gómez, Olben Falcó, Bas H. A. H. Tijs
  20. Multiscale Modeling of Open-hole Composite Laminates and 3D Woven Composites
      Deepak K. Patel…