A real micro-structural model to simulate the transversal compression behaviors of unidirectional composites based on the μ-CT detection

In this paper, the microstructural model of the unidirectional (UD) composite was firstly built based on a series of computed tomography (CT) images captured with the micro-CT (μ-CT) technique. During the modeling process, a fast and simple algorithm based on the image processing technique was developed to find out the centroids of fibers in CT images. The validity of the microstructural model was then verified by comparing it with some other ideal models and experimental results. The verification results indicated the fiber accumulated array is responsible for the compression modulus, strength, and failure model of UD composite. Besides, the resin bubble has the most significant effect on the transversal compression behavior of UD composite. The idea of creating the real microstructural model for UD composite can also be used for other types of composites to improve the precision of the related numerical models.