Analysis and prediction of tensile properties based on a novel wide‐angle fabric/EPDM composite under different temperatures

Abstract This study investigated the tensile properties of the wide‐angle fabric/ethylene‐propylene‐diene monomer (EPDM) composite (WFRC) under varying temperature conditions based on the macro‐ and mesoscopic structural characterization. The wide‐angle fabric was modeled using an improved “cross‐sectional path” method that precisely represents the yarn geometry by integrating warp and weft orientations within a non‐orthogonal coordinate system derived from optical micrographs. Tensile tests conducted across a temperature range from 25 to 150°C revealed that both stress and strain decrease with increasing temperature. Numerical simulations closely aligned with the experimental data, exhibiting a maximum relative error of only 2.5% at 90°C, thereby demonstrating the robustness of the simulation models in capturing the mechanical responses of WFRC. The findings underscore the predominant role of the rubber matrix in determining the mechanical properties of WFRC, while also highlighting that the fabric maintains excellent shape conformity with the rubber. This paper presents an effective methodology for analyzing the mechanical properties of WFRC under varying temperatures, laying the groundwork for future studies on the long‐term durability and failure mechanisms of WFRC under cyclic thermal loads, and broadening its applications across various engineering domains. Highlights The improved “cross section path” method is employed for fabric modeling. Macro‐ and mesoscopic modeling of the wide‐angle fabric/EPDM composite. The superelasticity of the rubber is integrated into the VUMAT subroutine. The numerical simulations closely align with the experimental data.