Influence of rve geometrical parameters on elastic response of woven flax-epoxy composite materials
Grażyna Ryzińska, Grzegorz Janowski
Quarterly No. 2, 2020 pages 51-59
DOI:
keywords: RVE, natural fiber composites, Digimat, flax, FEM, homogenization
abstract In the case of polymer composites reinforced with natural fiber woven fabrics, microstructural calculations are extremely difficult to perform due to their characteristic variability, among others their mechanical properties. The aforementioned scientific problem has not been thoroughly investigated, hence the purpose of this work was to assess the possibilities of predicting the properties of a composite reinforced with flax woven fabric by micromechanical calculations using the Mori- -Tanaka and the double inclusion homogenization models. In addition, the second important utilitarian problem that was undertaken in the work was assessment of the impact of the size of the representative volume element (RVE) on the obtained results. The analyses were carried out for composites based on epoxy resin reinforced with flax fabrics: plain, 2x2 twill and 3x1 twill types. Based on the performed calculations, it was found that the obtained results depend on the type of weave in the fabric used, the size of the RVE, the number of yarn bands in the RVE and the appropriately selected homogenization method. Guidelines useful for evaluating the optimal RVE size depending on the type of weave were formulated.