Investigation of finite element (Fe) modelling of composite materials: shell, solid and solid layered composite modelling – comparison of impact on simulation results
Katarzyna Gojny, Adam Dacko
Quarterly No. 1-2, 2021 pages 29-39
DOI:
keywords: composite materials, finite element (FE) modelling, finite element analysis (FEA), shell composite modelling, solid shell composite modelling, solid layered composite modelling
abstract Composites materials have attracted a great deal of interest for use in various fields e.g. the transport industry, construc-tion, sport equipment and even home applications. This is due to the excellent properties of composite materials such as their high strength/stiffness to mass ratio. Nowadays, finite element (FE) modelling allows investigation of the behaviour of compos-ite materials subjected to loading before the production stage. This paper compares the available ways of FE modelling of composite materials: shell, solid shell and solid layered composite modelling in MSC Patran/Nastran software. The aim of this research work was a comparative analysis and determination of the influence of the applied modelling type on the simulation results. Numerous finite element analyses (FEAs) (tensile and bending) of different narrow plate (resembling a slender, beam-like structural member) structure models were performed, i.e. laminated beam and sandwich beam models, with different layups of layers. The obtained numerical results allow the authors to conclude that shell composite finite element modelling can be considered a practically optimal choice due to reduction of the modelling effort and time, as well as due to obtaining consistent simulation results, especially when having only the basic manufacturer’s set of material constants.