A Multiscale Study of CFRP Based on Asymptotic Homogenization with Application to Mechanical Analysis of Composite Pressure Vessels

The application of composites is increasingly extensive due to their advanced properties while the analysis still remains complex on different scales. In this article, carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) is modeled via asymptotic homogenization employing a representative volume element (RVE) with periodic boundary conditions. A multiscale mechanical model of CFRP is established to bridge the microscopic model, mesoscopic model, and macroscopic model. According to asymptotic homogenization, the coefficients of the material constitutive equation are calculated with volume-averaged stress and strain. Using the homogenized materials properties of CFRP, the tensile experiments of composite layers with the layout of [(0 degrees/60 degrees/0 degrees/ - 60 degrees)(4)] are carried out to validate asymptotic homogenization method. The results indicated that the asymptotic homogenization approach can be used to calculate the homogenized elastic moduli and Poisson's ratio of the whole structure, where the numerical results are basically consistent with test data. The sequent homogenized CFRP laminate model is applied to the mechanical analysis of type III composite pressure vessels, whereby burst pressure is accurately predicted. This work might shed some light on multiscale analysis of composite pressure vessels.