Analytical modelling of the compressive and tensile response of woven composites

An analytical model to predict the compressive and tensile response of woven composites up to failure is proposed. The model is based on a beam supported by an elastic foundation. The elastic foundation provides both normal and shear support. Its characteristics are derived from kinematic models for the deformation of the weave and account for: (i) weave effect, (ii) support provided by the adjacent layers, and (iii) properties of matrix and transverse tows. A comparison between the analytical formulation proposed and refined numerical models shows that the former is capable of capturing the local stresses at the constituent level. Moreover, the comparison between analytical predictions and experiments shows that the failure strengths, in both tension and compression, are well predicted. Additionally, the model correctly represents the effect of the support provided by the adjacent layers (In-Phase and Out-of-Phase) on the failure strengths, providing an insight into the scatter observed experimentally.