Prediction of tensile strength of multilayer knitted-fabric-reinforced laminated composites

This paper deals with simulation of the tensile strength of plain weft-knit ted-fabric-reinforced composite laminates having different configurations. The simulation is performed at the lamina ply level, based on the classical laminate theory and a recently developed bridging micromechanics model. On ly material properties of constituent fiber and matrix as well as fabric ge ometric information are necessary for this simulation. The internal stress increments generated in the fiber and the matrix of each lamina are directl y related to the overall applied load increment on the laminate. As long as either the fiber or the matrix attains its ultimate stress state, the corr esponding lamina fails, and a s tiffness discount is applied to the remaini ng laminate. Predicted results of [0/0/0/0] and [0/90/90/0] fabric laminate s agree well with experimental data.