MESHLESS MODELING OF ELASTIC DEFORMATIONS OF POLYMERIC COMPOSITE MATERIALS UNDER STATIC LOADING

• Main Authors: Angelica V. Sizaya, Ilya V. Tsivilskiy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Saint Petersburg National Research University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics (ITMO University) 2020-08-01
• Series: Naučno-tehničeskij Vestnik Informacionnyh Tehnologij, Mehaniki i Optiki
• Subjects: meshless methods; composite materials; structural dynamics; strength
• Online Access: https://ntv.ifmo.ru/file/article/19799.pdf

Subject of Research. Composites are unique materials combining lightness and strength, which makes them popular in the materials industry. Mathematical modeling of these materials is necessary to predict their behavior under specific loads. The paper proposes a meshless method for mathematical modeling of anisotropic composite materials based on their representation as a set of meta-particles with spring-like bonds. Special feature of the presented work is the applicability of the same equations for the multi-scale modeling: on micro-scale (single fiber and an elementary volume of the compound) and macro-scale (cross-section of the whole composite part). Method. The method is based on Verlet-like time integration of particle displacements with consequent resolving of a system of elastic bonds with pre-calculated mass and stiffness. The method estimates temporal dynamics of composite deformations under applied mechanical load. The code for solution of motion equations and result visualization is written in pure JavaScript without any dependencies. Main Results. Elastic deformations of a simplified 2D model of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic have been simulated (with a mixture of epoxy and polyester resins as a compound) under static mechanical load using the proposed method. Calculations on the micro-and macro-scales with different directions of fiber layering: at the angles of 0° and 90°. Flat layering type is selected. The results are verified via the ANSYS Composite PrepPost solver under equivalent conditions. The coincidence of the calculation results by the meta-particle method of the developed solver and the finite element method is 89 %. Practical Relevance. The results obtained can be used in the development of new types of composite materials at the modeling and forecasting stage, and can also allow simulations of composites taking into account micro-processes for exclusion of pore formation and other defects that cannot be resolved using macro-scale modeling.