TY - JOUR

T1 - RUC-based multi-scale model for braid-reinforced polymers

T2 - Application to coil springs

AU - Luger, Marc

AU - Traxl, Roland

AU - Hofer, Ulrich

AU - Hirzinger, Benjamin

AU - Lackner, Roman

N1 - Funding Information: This research was funded by the K-Regio project "Innovative Tube Design - Entwicklung und Optimierung von neuen High-Tech Faserverbundstrukturen für den industriellen Einsatz auf Basis modell-und simulationsbasierter Methoden" in cooperation with Thöni Industriebetriebe GmbH, superTEX composites GmbH, and Intales GmbH. Financial support by the Tyrolean Government , the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the University of Innsbruck is gratefully acknowledged.

PY - 2018/9/15

Y1 - 2018/9/15

N2 - As fiber- and braid-reinforced polymer components exhibit a vast number of additional design parameters compared to components made of monolithic materials, simulation methods are indispensable in the design and optimization process, accompanying or substituting experimental approaches. In respect thereof, we present a multi-scale approach comprising three observation scales: (i) the yarn scale considering fibers embedded in polymer, (ii) the braid scale capturing interwoven yarns, and (iii) the component scale. Information from one scale is transferred to the next higher scale by means of effective properties determined by finite element analysis of repetitive unit cell (RUC) models, subsequently applied for the determination of elastic properties on the yarn and braid scale. The depicted procedure allows the consideration of different types of braids (balanced and unbalanced regular braids) exhibiting arbitrary braid angles. Therefrom obtained effective properties enter the numerical model of the respective structural component. Finally, the multi-scale model is applied to the analysis of braid-reinforced polymer coil springs highlighting the potential of the proposed numerical approach. The obtained simulation results show excellent agreement with the respective experimental measurements and provide – additionally – insight into the stress distribution/loading within the coil as well as the sensitivity of design parameters with respect to the spring performance.

AB - As fiber- and braid-reinforced polymer components exhibit a vast number of additional design parameters compared to components made of monolithic materials, simulation methods are indispensable in the design and optimization process, accompanying or substituting experimental approaches. In respect thereof, we present a multi-scale approach comprising three observation scales: (i) the yarn scale considering fibers embedded in polymer, (ii) the braid scale capturing interwoven yarns, and (iii) the component scale. Information from one scale is transferred to the next higher scale by means of effective properties determined by finite element analysis of repetitive unit cell (RUC) models, subsequently applied for the determination of elastic properties on the yarn and braid scale. The depicted procedure allows the consideration of different types of braids (balanced and unbalanced regular braids) exhibiting arbitrary braid angles. Therefrom obtained effective properties enter the numerical model of the respective structural component. Finally, the multi-scale model is applied to the analysis of braid-reinforced polymer coil springs highlighting the potential of the proposed numerical approach. The obtained simulation results show excellent agreement with the respective experimental measurements and provide – additionally – insight into the stress distribution/loading within the coil as well as the sensitivity of design parameters with respect to the spring performance.

KW - Braid-reinforced composites

KW - Coil springs

KW - Multi-scale modeling

KW - Repetitive unit cell

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85053767685&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.compositesb.2018.09.020

DO - 10.1016/j.compositesb.2018.09.020

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85053767685

VL - 155

SP - 431

EP - 443

JO - Composites Part B: Engineering

JF - Composites Part B: Engineering

SN - 1359-8368

ER -