Finite Element Analysis of Mechanical Properties of 3 D Surface‐Core Braided Composites

Three‐dimensional (3D) surface‐core braided composite is a new type of braided composite with a skin‐core structure. Three parameterized structure models of unit‐cell located in the interior, surface and corner regions are established. Under the general periodic boundary conditions, predictions of effective elastic properties and mechanical responses are presented by using the finite element method. The deformation and stress distribution of three unit‐cell models are demonstrated and the effects of braiding parameters on the mechanical properties are investigated in detail. Numerical results indicate that the three unit‐cells have distinctive properties and the effects of surface and corner regions on the mechanical properties of the whole material should be considered to obtain accurate results. Good agreement between the calculated results and available experimental data verifies the applicability of the proposed models. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:1076–1088, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers