Abstract:

In order to predict the macroscopic elastic constants of 3D braided composites accurately, first, a unit cell geometric model is presented. In this model the 3D geometric structure of the yarn is considered in detail and the corresponding finite element model can be built easily. Then the yarn and matrix are meshed using solid hexahedral elements respectively.

Key words: 3D , braided , composites,  ,  , unit , cell,  ,  , geometric , model,  ,  , finite , element , model,  ,  , macroscopic , elastic , constant