Modelling and Analysis of Plain Weave Fabric Reinforced Composites using Finite Element Method

Abstract

Composite materials are swiftly becoming an alternative for metals and alloys in various industrial sectors which includes automobiles and aerospace applications. These
applications require a reliable and safe design due to which there is a need for determining the real-world behaviour of this structures under various loading conditions. The traditional way of using prototypes consumes both time and money. Finite element analysis (FEA)would be a better alternative for predicting the actual behaviour without the use of prototyping as it reduces the time and costs involved. The current research focuses on the FEA of plain weave fabric reinforced composite materials with the use of ANSYS. The mechanical, thermal, impact and wear behaviour of plain weave fabric reinforced polymer composites has been analysed. The study also describes a way to simulate tensile, compression, bending and flexural tests for plain weave fabric reinforced composite. A three-dimensional micromechanical models based on finite element method with representative volume element (REV) is employed to predict the material characteristics of plain weave composites.