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Title: Multi-scale computational analysis of unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites under various loading conditions

Abstract

In this study, a multi-scale computational analysis based on representative volume element (RVE) modeling and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations is developed to investigate the microscopic failure mechanisms of unidirectional (UD) carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites. The average properties of the 200-nm thickness interphase region between fiber and matrix are characterized through MD simulations and an analytical gradient model. The results demonstrate that the interphase region has higher Young’s modulus and strength, compared to the bulk matrix. This stiffened interphase region influences the composite response significantly. Specifically, the traditional two-phase model with zero-thickness interface fails to capture the stress-strain behavior compared to the experimental data. However, by adding the interphase region to a modified RVE model, the accuracy of simulation results will be improved significantly. Furthermore, a coupled experimental-computational micromechanics approach is adopted to calibrate and validate the cohesive parameters of the interface. By including the cohesive interface, our modified RVE model accurately captures the failure strength of the composites. Finally, different failure mechanisms for specimens are investigated using our multi-scale computational framework. In conclusion, the results show that the failure modes of UD CFRP composites are very complex and multiple failure mechanisms co-exist depending on the loading conditions, agreeingmore » well with our experimental analyses.« less

Authors:
 [1]; ORCiD logo [2];  [3];  [4];  [5];  [2];  [1];  [4]
  1. Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (China)
  2. Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)
  3. The Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH (United States); Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (United States)
  4. Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (United States)
  5. Univ. of Michigan, Dearborn, MI (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Ford Motor Company, Detroit, MI (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Vehicle Technologies Office (EE-3V); USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
OSTI Identifier:
1504737
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1582980
Grant/Contract Number:  
EE0006867
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Composite Structures
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 196; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0263-8223
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
42 ENGINEERING; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING; Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites; Multi-scale analysis; Representative volume element; Interphase; Molecular dynamics; Failure mechanism

Citation Formats

Sun, Qingping, Meng, Zhaoxu, Zhou, Guowei, Lin, Shih-Po, Kang, Hongtae, Keten, Sinan, Guo, Haiding, and Su, Xuming. Multi-scale computational analysis of unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites under various loading conditions. United States: N. p., 2018. Web. doi:10.1016/j.compstruct.2018.05.025.
Sun, Qingping, Meng, Zhaoxu, Zhou, Guowei, Lin, Shih-Po, Kang, Hongtae, Keten, Sinan, Guo, Haiding, & Su, Xuming. Multi-scale computational analysis of unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites under various loading conditions. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2018.05.025
Sun, Qingping, Meng, Zhaoxu, Zhou, Guowei, Lin, Shih-Po, Kang, Hongtae, Keten, Sinan, Guo, Haiding, and Su, Xuming. 2018. "Multi-scale computational analysis of unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites under various loading conditions". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2018.05.025. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1504737.
@article{osti_1504737,
title = {Multi-scale computational analysis of unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites under various loading conditions},
author = {Sun, Qingping and Meng, Zhaoxu and Zhou, Guowei and Lin, Shih-Po and Kang, Hongtae and Keten, Sinan and Guo, Haiding and Su, Xuming},
abstractNote = {In this study, a multi-scale computational analysis based on representative volume element (RVE) modeling and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations is developed to investigate the microscopic failure mechanisms of unidirectional (UD) carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites. The average properties of the 200-nm thickness interphase region between fiber and matrix are characterized through MD simulations and an analytical gradient model. The results demonstrate that the interphase region has higher Young’s modulus and strength, compared to the bulk matrix. This stiffened interphase region influences the composite response significantly. Specifically, the traditional two-phase model with zero-thickness interface fails to capture the stress-strain behavior compared to the experimental data. However, by adding the interphase region to a modified RVE model, the accuracy of simulation results will be improved significantly. Furthermore, a coupled experimental-computational micromechanics approach is adopted to calibrate and validate the cohesive parameters of the interface. By including the cohesive interface, our modified RVE model accurately captures the failure strength of the composites. Finally, different failure mechanisms for specimens are investigated using our multi-scale computational framework. In conclusion, the results show that the failure modes of UD CFRP composites are very complex and multiple failure mechanisms co-exist depending on the loading conditions, agreeing well with our experimental analyses.},
doi = {10.1016/j.compstruct.2018.05.025},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1504737}, journal = {Composite Structures},
issn = {0263-8223},
number = C,
volume = 196,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu May 03 00:00:00 EDT 2018},
month = {Thu May 03 00:00:00 EDT 2018}
}

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Cited by: 58 works
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