Study of stress concentrations in woven composites

The present paper provides a detailed micromechanical analysis of a plain woven composite. Geometrical and finite element modelling are carried out by accounting for the complicated architecture of the composite. Detailed modelling allows one to study the stress distributions and concentrations inside the composite. Plotted results clearly show the stress concentrations in the yams and in the matrix due to the interlacing and waviness (undulation) of the fabric. The term stress variation factor is used to study the effects of various characteristics of the composite on the stress concentrations. The results help to identify failure initiation and facilitate the study of the failure mechanism of the composite