Application of TexGen to mechanical modelling of textile reinforcements

Dr Hua Lin
Division of materials, mechanics and structures University of Nottingham

Contents
1.
2. 3. 4.

Unit cell modelling of fabric compression

Unit cell modelling of fabric shear Multi-scale modelling of fabric shear Multi-scale modelling of fabric forming

Unit cell modelling of fabric mechanical properties

Unit cell fabric model:
TexGen Geometric Model

UMAT Material Model

Unit cell geometry of Chomarat800S4-F1 Unit cell geometry (mm)

Yarn spacing 3.16 Yarn width 3.10 Fabric thickness 1.15

Python Scripting Interface

Abaqus Finite Element Analysis

Unit cell modelling of fabric compression

P

Compression modelling of Chomarat 800S4-F1

2.5 2.0
Pressure (MPa)

EXP FE

1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Strain (%)

Compacted unit cell

FE prediction vs exp. data

H. Lin, M. Sherburn, J. Crookston, A. C. Long, M. J. Clifford, I. A. Jones, Finite Element Modelling of Fabric Compression. Modelling and Simulation in Materials Science and Engineering. 16(2008) 035010 (16pp).

Unit cell modelling of fabric shear

Picture frame shear simulation

Exp. data vs FE prediction

Satin

twill

plain

Effect of weave pattern on fabric shear

H. Lin M. J. Clifford, A. C. Long, M. Sherburn, Finite element modelling of fabric shear. Modelling and Simulation in Materials Science and Engineering, 17(2009) 015008 (16pp).

Multi-scale modelling of fabric shear

Modelling approach:
Unit cell fabric model Non-orthogonal constitutive model Abaqus Standard and Explicit

Simulation of picture frame shear testing

Exp. data vs FE prediction

Multi-scale modelling of fabric forming

Experimental set-up
Simulation set-up

A simulated hemisphere

Predicted stress fields in a formed part

Multi-scale modelling of fabric forming

Effect of weave pattern on fabric shear

Satin weave

Twill weave

Plain weave

Effect of weave pattern on fabric forming behaviour simulated stress fields in the fibres for the three weaves The plain weave is the most likely to wrinkle and the satin weave is the least likely.

Conclusions
TexGen geometry modelling in conjunction with Abaqus mechanical prediction can be a powerful tool for engineers and designers.