Effect of Fabric Structures on the Mechanical Properties of 3-D Textile Composites

This article reports on an experimental study to evaluate the effect of fabric structures on the mechanical properties of three-dimensional (3-D) textile composites reinforced with 3-D braid, 3-D woven fabric, and 3-D woven fabric with twisted yarns. The mechanical properties are tested in uniaxial tension, compression, three-point flexure, and short-beam shear. The failure modes and mechanisms under such loading conditions are examined. While the mechanical properties and failure modes of these composites vary considerably, they are directly influenced by the fiber architecture of the perform fabrics. When more fibers are placed to strengthen the composite in a given direction, the composite could be weakened by the shift of fiber placement in some other directions. The structure–property relations of such 3-D composites are discussed in this article.