Analytical and numerical modeling of mechanical properties of orthogonal 3D CFRP

Abstract This study proposes an analytical and numerical model, for the prediction of mechanical properties of orthogonal 3D reinforcement composite materials, taking into account their structural parameters (mechanical properties of the components and geometrical architecture). This first step of this work requires the definition of the composite representative elementary volume (REV). Microscope studies made possible to visualize the architectural aspect of the internal structure. From these observations two types of REV, adapted to the types of modeling (analytical and by finite elements FE), were defined. The first one takes into account the whole of material in its thickness thus integrating the characteristics of the layers and the vertical reinforcements. The second one, strongly simplified in order to minimize the costs of calculations, is used in the FE approach. Moreover the analytical model is extended to the prediction of the ultimate properties by using the tonsorial criterion 3D of Tsai. The results obtaining from these modeling are compared with experimental results. This comparison highlights the interest and the limits of each approach according to the effect of the choice of the REV.