A level-set based representative volume element generator and XFEM simulations for textile and 3D-reinforced composites

Abstract

This contribution presents a new framework for the computational homogenization of the mechanical properties of textile reinforced composites. A critical point in such computational procedures is the definition and discretization of realistic representative volume elements (RVEs). A geometrically-based weave generator has been developed to produce realistic geometrical configurations of the reinforcing textile. This generator takes into account the contact conditions between the yarns in the reinforcement by means of an iterative scheme, accommodating the tension in the yarns in an implicit manner. The shape of the cross sections of the yarns can also be adapted as a function of the contact conditions using a level set-based post-processor. This allows a seamless transition towards an extended finite element (XFE) scheme, in which the obtained reinforcement geometry is subsequently exploited to derive the mechanical properties of the composite system using computational homogenization. © 2013 by the authors.