Computationally Efficient Micromechanical Models for Woven Fabric Composite Elastic Moduli

This paper presents two newly developed micromechanical models for the analysis of plain weave fabric composites. Both models utilize the representative volume cell approach. The representative unit volume of the woven lamina is divided into subcells of homogeneous material. Starting with the average strains in the representative volume cell and based on continuity requirements at the subcell interfaces, the strains and stresses in the composite fiber yarns and matrix are determined as well as the average stresses in the lamina. Equivalent homogenized material properties are also determined. In their formulation the developed micromechanical models take into consideration all components of the three-dimensional strain and stress tensors. The performance of both models is assessed through comparison with available results from other numerical, analytical, and experimental approaches for composite laminae homogenization. The very good accuracy together with the simplicity of formulation makes these models attractive for the finite element analysis of composite laminates.