CLASSICAL LAMINATE THEORY MODELS FOR WOVEN FABRIC COMPOSITES

Improved classical laminate theory (CLT) models are developed for plai n weave, 5-, and 8-harness satin weave composites. These models retain the simplicity of the fiber undulation model and the bridging model d eveloped by Chou and Ishikawa but do not have the assumptions made to simplify the analysis. Closed-form expressions are derived for the CLT matrices for the woven fabric composites. These expressions are then used to predict moduli, Poisson's ratios, and the coefficients of ther mal expansion (CTE) using the properties of the constituents. The resu lts from the present CLT model are compared to the results from the fa bric analysis method, three-dimensional (3D) finite element mosaic mod els, and other CLT models. The present model results for moduli and Po isson's ratio are, in general, in good agreement with those of other m odels and the very limited experimental results available in the liter ature. However, the comparisons for the thermal coefficients of expans ion are not satisfactory. The models presented in this paper can be us ed to predict and rank the performance of woven fabric composites star ting from the properties of the constituents.