Performance prediction of interlock woven composites by independent mesh method

High fidelity analysis methods have shown significant success in predicting performance and durability in laminated tape composites. A combination of regularized extended finite element method (Rx-FEM) , which was previously validated for ply-level discrete damage modeling (DDM) in tape laminates, and the independent mesh method (IMM) is proposed to predict the progression of damage throughout an angle-interlock woven composite at the mesoscale. The process simulations to predict the as-woven tow architecture were performed by the Virtual Textile Morphology Suite (VTMS), using the digital chain technique. Process parameters were calibrated such that the crimp within the tows for the virtually generated meso-volume closely matched X-ray images. The mesoscale simulations captured experimentally observed failure modes for tension and compression in warp and weft direction. The predicted strength values based on the virtual mesovolume were higher than experimental average from 1 to 25% for the warp compression damage mode.