Prediction of tensile strength of multilayer knitted-fabric-reinforced laminated composites

Abstract

This paper deals with simulation of the tensile strength of plain weft-knitted-fabric-reinforced composite laminates having different configurations. The simulation is performed at the lamina ply level, based on the classical laminate theory and a recently developed bridging micromechanics model. Only material properties of constituent fiber and matrix as well as fabric geometric information are necessary for this simulation. The internal stress increments generated in the fiber and the matrix of each lamina are directly related to the overall applied load increment on the laminate. As long as either the fiber or the matrix attains its ultimate stress state, the corresponding lamina fails, and a stiffness discount is applied to the remaining laminate. Predicted results of [0/0/0/0] and [0/90/90/0] fabric laminates agree well with experimental data.