Analysis of 2D triaxial flat braided textile composites (Q1434641)

The authors deal with the development of the macroscopic linear elastic stress-strain relation for a 2D triaxial flat braided composite (shortly 2DTBC) with explicit incorporation of bias tow angles, bias tow indulations, axial tow indulation, and manufacturing-induced unintended imperfections of non-matching bias tow undulation amplitudes. The method adopted is based on identifying a representative unit cell of the composite architecture in conjunction with the use of the iso-phase model to arrive at the macroscopic 2DTBC stiffness. Moreover, the effects of axial tow undulations and bias tow undulations and the effects of the bias tow angle on the resulting stiffness are examined. In addition, the effect of non-matched bias tow undulation amplitudes on the resulting stiffness is also studied.