A novel multiscale prediction strategy for simulating the progressive damage behavior of plain-woven bamboo fabrics reinforced epoxy resin composites

This study proposed a novel multiscale prediction strategy, including mesoscale and macroscale damage evolution modeling, to investigate the effective properties and progressive damage failure behavior of plain-woven reinforced composites (PWRCs) under various external loads (tension, compression). A high-precision mesoscale representative volume element (RVE) that could accurately describe the local mechanical behavior of PWRCs was developed by combining experimental characterization (scanning electron microscope and X-ray computed tomography) and numerical simulation. To solve the problem of inaccurate prediction results caused by multiscale characteristics and complex stress changes in the damaged area of PWRCs, the strain-based 3D Hashin failure criterion and the multiscale damage models were used to predict the damage initiation and evolution of mesoscale reinforcement (bamboo fiber yarn bundle) and macroscale composites, respectively. Considering the damage evolution law of isotropic materials, a damage model based on the Von Mises criterion was used to characterize the damage initiation and evolution of mesoscale matrix epoxy resin (EP) under external loading. The effective properties and mechanical behavior of the PWRCs were transferred from mesoscale to macroscale through the progressive homogenization method. The bilinear constitutive relationship of the mixed-mode cohesive element was used to characterize the interlaminar failure of the PWRCs. Finally, the corresponding mechanical characterization (tension, compression) of the PWRCs was carried out. Moreover, the experimental results were highly consistent with the simulation results, verifying the reliability of the novel multiscale prediction strategy in investigating the mechanical response of the PWRCs at multiple scales and revealing the damage mechanism of the PWRCs.