Mechanism-Based Design of Composite Structures

The paper introduces high temperature composite software developed for mechanism-based design of composite structures. Mechanism-based design is characterized by an understanding of the critical composite behaviors at several physical scales: the fibrous (micro) scale, the ply/weave (meso) scale and the laminated part (macro) scale, and by the specification of the available design parameters to achieve functionality by those behaviors. A software framework is described which integrates material modeling and analysis codes, provides automated assistance, and links to material databases. Elastic and inelastic material modeling codes suitable for high temperature composites with complex reinforcement and weave/lay-up configurations are presented and references to their underlying theories are given. Advanced analysis techniques are outlined for numerically efficient computational plasticity based on mathematical homogenization, idealization error indicators for material scale, three dimensional crack propagation in a fibrous composite, and modeling of reactive vapor infiltration and chemical vapor deposition processes.