Fatigue of multiscale composites with secondary nanoplatelet reinforcement: 3D computational analysis

3D numerical simulations of fatigue damage of multiscale fiber reinforced polymer composites with secondary nanoclay reinforcement are carried out. Macro–micro FE models of the multiscale composites are generated automatically using Python based software. The effect of the nanoclay reinforcement (localized in the fiber/matrix interface (fiber sizing) and distributed throughout the matrix) on the crack path, damage mechanisms and fatigue behavior is investigated in numerical experiments. It was observed that the composites with secondary nanoreinforcement localized in the fiber sizing ensure higher lifetime and damage resistance than those with nanoreinforcement dispersed throughout the matrix. Crack bridging by nanoparticles was observed mainly in composites with randomly oriented nanoplatelets and clusters, while the crack path deviation was strongest in the composites with aligned nanoplatelets. Multiscale composites with exfoliated nanoreinforcement and aligned nanoplatelets ensure the better fatigue resistance than those with intercalated/clustered and randomly oriented nanoreinforcement.