A novel analytical model for predicting the compression modulus of 2D PWF composites

This paper seeks to address a novel model for predicting the compression modulus of a 2D plain weave fabric (PWF) composite accounting for the interaction of orthogonal interlacing strands. The two orthogonal yarns in a micromechanical unit cell are idealized as curved beams with a path depicted by using sinusoidal shape functions. The modulus is derived by means of a strain energy approach founded on micromechanics. In order to validate the model, experiments have been performed to investigate the mechanical properties of two-dimensional (2D) orthogonal EW220/5284 PWF composites fabricated by resin transfer moulding (RTM). In-plane tensile, compressive and shear moduli have been measured. It is shown that the experimental results correlate well with predictions from the new model. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.