Multiscale analysis method and experiments for the transverse mechanical property of unidirectional fiber-reinforced composites

Carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy matrix composite laminates have been widely used in the case of advanced aero-engines, due to their high specific mechanical properties and mature production technology. In order to predict accurately the transverse mechanical properties of composites, this paper developed a multiscale analysis method which consists of three scales: At the microscale, an interfacial cohesive zone model is established based on atomic potential energy to describe the interface. At the mesoscale, a unit cell model is established to represent the fiber, matrix, and interface. At the macroscale, the homogenization method, failure criteria, and damage degradation models are utilized to predict transverse mechanical properties. The results of predictions are compared with experimental tests, and it is found that the maximum errors are less than 3%. Furthermore, the predicted damage evolution path aligns with the experimental results, thus validating the accuracy of the multiscale analysis method. By employing the multiscale analysis method, the effects of interfacial strength on the macroscopic transverse mechanical properties are analyzed. The simulation results indicate that: The interfacial strength has a more pronounced influence on the transverse strength and ultimate strain compared with the transverse modulus. Reducing the interfacial strength has a greater influence on the transverse modulus, strength, and ultimate strain than increasing the interfacial strength. The interfacial cohesive zone model can reflect the nonlinearity of epoxy matrix composite materials. Overall, the multiscale analysis method proves to be effective in accurately predicting the transverse mechanical properties of composites, and provides insights into the interfacial strength’s role in these properties.