A numerical study of the influence of Z-pin parameters on the elastic properties of laminates

A finite element model with periodic boundary conditions was developed to investigate the influence of different Z-pin parameters including diameter, spacing, and insertion angle of Z-pin on the elastic properties of composite laminates. Benchmark tests were carried out to verify the FE model and a series of parametric analyses were subsequently performed. In general, all the elastic moduli, excluding the through-thickness modulus ( E _z ), decreased while E _z increased nonlinearly with increasing Z-pin diameter and decreasing spacing. The reduction of E _y (transverse modulus) was approximately 40% of that of E _x (longitudinal modulus), while the reduction of G _xy is similar to that of E _x . Besides, G _xz and G _yz were reduced by approximately half of the reduction of G _xy . Although the impact of insertion angle was obvious on E _z , it was negligible on the other five moduli.