Geometric modelling and finite element analysis of plain-woven natural fibre reinforced hybrid textile composites

Prior to the fabrication and implementation processes, it is imperative to accurately predict the mechanical strength of the textile composite. The major goal of this work is to develop a three-dimensional finite element method to estimate the mechanical response of a woven fabric hybrid natural textile composite under compression. A mesoscale finite element model for a plain-woven fabric unit cell has been developed and analysed for its mechanical characteristics. For their mechanical robustness, six natural fibre plain-woven patterns viz. flax plain, jute plain, basalt plain, inter-yarn hybrid basalt-flax plain, and jute-flax plain were compared and thoroughly examined. These patterns’ mechanical properties were modelled and critically contrasted using matrix materials like thermoset epoxy and thermoplastic polypropylene. The basalt-flax plain with epoxy as the matrix material has excellent mechanical properties among the numerous analysed patterns. Thus, it was concluded that transverse-longitudinal shear characteristics and yarn cross-sectional stiffness have the greatest influence on compressed textiles. In parametric analysis, the impact of geometric parameters on strain energy, artificial strain energy, displacement, and contact pressure – such as yarn width, yarn spacing, and fabric thickness was thoroughly investigated and discussed in detail. The current model can accurately mimic a textile fabric with various weaving patterns, material properties, and stress conditions.