A novel micromechanics-based approach to the derivation of constitutive equations for local/global analysis of a plain-weave fabric composite

A stress and strain averaging procedure is presented in this paper for loca l/global analysis of plain-weave fabric composites. Within a representative volume cell, using uniform stress and uniform strain assumptions, the cons titutive equations are averaged along the thickness direction. The cell is then divided into many subcells and an averaging is performed again by assu ming uniform stress distribution in each subcell to obtain the effective st ress/strain relations of the subcell. As a result, a linear system of equat ions is formed and subsequently solved to distribute the global average str ains to each subcell. In this manner, given the average strains, the global average stresses can be determined. Numerical results are generated for en gineering constants and compared to other numerical predictions and experim ental data. Good agreements are achieved with respect to experimental data and finite-element results. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reser ved.