FAILURE ANALYSIS OF WOVEN AND BRAIDED FABRIC REINFORCED COMPOSITES

A general purpose micromechanics analysis that discretely models the y am architecture within the textile repeating unit cell was developed t o predict overall, three-dimensional, thermal and mechanical propertie s, damage initiation and progression, and strength. This analytical te chnique was implemented in a user-friendly, personal computer-based, m enu-driven code called Textile Composite Analysis for Design (TEXCAD). TEXCAD was used to analyze plain weave and 2 x 2, 2-D triaxial braide d composites. The calculated tension, compression, and shear strengths correlated well with available test data for both woven and braided c omposites. Parametric studies were performed on both woven and braided architectures to investigate the effects of parameters such as yarn s ize, yarn spacing, yam crimp, braid angle, and overall fiber volume fr action on the strength properties of the textile composite.