Finite Elastic Behavior of Flexible Fabric Composite Under Biaxial Loading

Abstract

A new modeling technique has been introduced to predict the large deformation of flexible composites reinforced by plain-weave fabrics under biaxial loading. The only input required for calculations are the mechanical properties of the constituents and the fabric geometry. The constitutive equations are derived based on a strain energy approach, where fiber and matrix are accounted separately and the curved yarns are assumed to be in sinusoidal shape. Both material and geometrical nonlinearities are considered in the formulation. Good agreement has been found between predictions and experiments under various biaxial loading.