Predicting the strength of diamond braided composites

Abstract

The strength of diamond braided composites is examined and the experimentally observed trends from the braid architectures are simulated using the micromechanics models. The effect of continuity of yarns at the edge of specimen is also studied. Standard tensile tests performed on both types of specimens showed a significant difference in failure strength and failure strain along with the failure mode between the specimens with continuous and discontinuous yarn reinforcement. A micromechanical model is developed to predict the failure strength of the above mentioned composites under uniaxial tensile loading. The model predicts with fair degree of accuracy the stress-strain response for the specimens with yarn discontinuity at the edges.