Analysis of nonlinear flexural behavior of thick composites with fiber waviness

A finite element analysis model was developed to predict flexural behavior of thick composites with uniform, graded and localized fiber waviness. In the analyses, material and geometrical nonlinearities due to fiber waviness were incorporated into the model utilizing energy density and an incremental method. In the model, two kinds of geometrical nonlinearity were considered, one due to reorientation of fibers and the other due to difference of curvatures from one finite element to another during deformation. The finite element analyses utilize the iterative mapping method to incorporate these geometrical nonlinear factors. The model was used to predict not only the flexural behavior of a flat thick composite plate but also of a thick composite plate with initial curvature. Flat composite specimens with various degrees of fiber waviness were fabricated and four-point flexural tests were conducted. The predicted nonlinear behavior by the current model was compared with results from the thin slice model and experiments. Good agreement was observed among them.