Analysing and modelling the 3D shear damage behaviour of hybrid yarn textile-reinforced thermoplastic composites

The presented work focuses on the examination of the 3D shear damage behaviour and its phenomenological failure process of a thermoplastic composite made of E-glass/polypropylene hybrid yarn with a woven reinforcement. Experimental shear characterisation is performed by means of the losipescu testing approach for both in-plane and through-thickness directions. A procedure for the manufacturing of through-thickness shear specimens is presented in this study. The characterisation of the chronological failure process and deformation analysis is supported by high speed camera system and Digital Image Correlation. Based on the experimental observations, material modelling strategies are derived and performed within the finite element environment Ls-Dyna. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.