Three-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis of Plain Woven Fabric Composites Based on Damage Mechanics : Effect of Geometric Change in Opened Yarns on Damage Development

Fiber opening technology is expected to improve mechanical characteristics of woven fabric composites by high impregnation of matrix resin and reduction of undulation of yarns. In this paper, a three-dimensional finite element method based on damage mechanics has been applied to plain woven fabric composites, and the effect of fabric architecture of opened yarns on damage development under on-axis tensile load have been investigated numerically. Finite element models composed of weave yarns and matrix were employed, the flattening ratio between width and height of opened yarns were changed under the condition that volume fraction of fiber is constant. As a result, it has been recognized that plain woven fabric composites show different damage development in a mesoscopic scale according to geometric change of opened yarns. Overall tensile strength proved to be maximized by geometric design of opened yarns.