Micro-scale modeling of textile composites based on the virtual fiber embedded models

Abstract This paper presents a novel modeling method to analyze the stress and strain fields of the textile composites. Firstly, the fiber reinforcements are generated using virtual fibers. Then the virtual fibers are embedded into the background solid meshes to model the composites. Compared with traditional meso-scale finite element models, the proposed method simplifies the geometry modeling and meshing processes of the complex fiber structures within the composites. Compaction deformations of the yarns can be modeled with high fidelity using virtual fibers. A plain composite unit cell model is used to demonstrate the accuracy of the proposed method. Simulation results of the virtual fiber embedded models agree well with that of the traditional finite element models. The proposed method is employed to predict the mechanical response of a four-layer plain composite under tensile load. The calculated surface strain field is consistent with the DIC measurement. Effect of nesting between the plain layers on the stress and strain fields of the composite is investigated.