Micro-Scale Homogenization of Fiber Composites Using an Automated Graphical User Interface Based Python Abaqus Interface
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study introduces the Micro-scale RVE Tool (MRT) and Quick Tool Model (QTM) for efficient prediction of the effective elastic properties of composite materials. A Python-based interface enables streamlined meshing, modeling, and property extraction. Compared to conventional methods, the approach significantly reduces computation time by optimizing code structure and automating stiffness parameter extraction. The MRT is built on multi-scale homogenization theory and allows for 3D RVE generation with varied fiber geometries. Finite element analysis and volumetric homogenization are used to compute elastic properties across different fiber volume fractions. Results show strong agreement with experimental data, validating the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method.
Keywords
Micro-scale, multi-scale, RVE, mechanical, abauqus GUI
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
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[2] W. Tian, L. Qi, J. Zhou, J. Liang, and Y. Ma, Representative volume element for composites reinforced by spatially randomly distributed discontinuous fibers and its applications, Composite Structures, vol. 131, pp. 366–373, Nov. 2015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2015.05.014
[3] N. Li and Y. D. Zhou, Failure mechanism analysis of fiber-reinforced polymer composites based on multi-scale fracture plane angles, Thin-Walled Structures, vol. 158, Jan. 2021, Art. no. 107195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tws.2020.107195
[4] Y. Chu, L. Sun, X. Yang, J. Wang, and W. Huang, Multiscale simulation and theoretical prediction for the elastic properties of unidirectional fiber‐reinforced polymer containing random void defects, Polymer Composites, vol. 42, iss. 6, pp. 2958–2972, Mar. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1002/pc.26028
[5] P. F. Liu and X. K. Li, Explicit finite element analysis of failure behaviors of thermoplastic composites under transverse tension and shear, Composite Structures, vol. 192, pp. 131–142, May 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2018.02.037
[6] K. Raju, T-E. Tay, and V. B. C. Tan, A review of the FE2 method for composites, Multiscale and Multidisciplinary Modeling, Experiments and Design, vol. 4, pp. 1–24, Jan. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41939-020-00087-x
[7] Q. Guo, W. Yao, W, and Li, N. Gupta, Constitutive models for the structural analysis of composite materials for the finite element analysis: A review of recent practices, Composite Structures, vol. 260, Mar. 2021, Art. no. 113267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2020.113267
[8] C. Chang, Y. Zhang, and H. Wang, Micromechanical modeling of unidirectional composites with random fiber and interphase thickness distributions, Archive of Applied Mechanics, vol. 89, iss. 12, pp. 2563–2575. Dec. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00419-019-01595-0
[9] H. Bisheh, Automatic generation of 3D micromechanical finite element model with periodic boundary conditions to predict elastic properties of bamboo fibre-reinforced composites, Structures, vol. 58, Dec. 2023, Art. no. 105639. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.istruc.2023.105639
[10] C. Cai, B. Wang, W. Yin, Z. Xu, R. Wang, and X. He, A new algorithm to generate non-uniformly dispersed representative volume elements of composite materials with high volume fractions, Materials & Design, vol. 219, Jul. 2022, Art. no. 110750. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2022.110750
[11] W. Wang, H. Wang, S. Fei, H. Wang, H. Dong, and Y. Ke, Generation of random fiber distributions in fiber reinforced composites based on Delaunay triangulation, Materials & Design, vol. 206, Aug. 2021, Art. no. 109812. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2021.109812
[12] T. J. Vaughan and C. T. McCarthy, A combined experimental–numerical approach for generating statistically equivalent fibre distributions for high strength laminated composite materials, Composites Science and Technology, vol. 70, iss. 2, pp. 291–297, Feb. 2010. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compscitech.2009.10.020
[13] K. Naresh, K. A. Khan, R. Umer, and W.-J. Cantwell, The use of X-ray computed tomography for design and process modeling of aerospace composites: A review, Materials & Design, vol. 190, May 2020, Art. no. 108553. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2020.108553
[14] W. Tian, L. Qi, X. Chao, J. Liang, and M. Fu, Periodic boundary condition and its numerical implementation algorithm for the evaluation of effective mechanical properties of the composites with complicated micro-structures, Composites Part B: Engineering, vol. 162, pp. 1–10, Apr. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2018.10.053
[15] F. Otero, S. Oller, X. Martinez, O. Salomón, Numerical homogenization for composite materials analysis. Comparison with other micro mechanical formulations, Composite Structures, vol. 122, pp. 405–416, Apr. 2015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2014.11.041
[16] X. -Y. Zhou, P. D. Gosling, Z. Ullah, and Ł. Kaczmarczyk, Exploiting the benefits of multi-scale analysis in reliability analysis for composite structures, Composite Structures, vol. 155, pp. 197–212, Nov. 2016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2016.08.015
[17] V. D. Nguyen, E. Béchet, C. Geuzaine, and L. Noels, Imposing periodic boundary condition on arbitrary meshes by polynomial interpolation, Computational Materials Science, vol. 55, pp. 390–406, Apr. 2012. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.commatsci.2011.10.017
[18] S. Bargmann, B. Klusemann, J. Markmann, J. E. Schnabel, K. Schneider, C. Soyarslan, and J. Wilmer, Generation of 3D representative volume elements for heterogeneous materials: A review, Progress in Materials Science, vol. 96, pp. 322–384, Jul. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmatsci.2018.02.003
[19] Y. Lai, Y. J. Zhang, L. Liu, X. Wei, E. Fang, and J. Lua, Integrating CAD with Abaqus: A practical isogeometric analysis software platform for industrial applications, Computers & Mathematics with Applications, vol. 74, iss. 7, pp. 1648–1660, Oct. 2017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.camwa.2017.03.032
[20] S. M. Kastuar, C. E. Ekuma, and Z. -L. Liu, Efficient prediction of temperature-dependent elastic and mechanical properties of 2D materials, Scientific Reports, vol. 12, Mar. 2022, Art. no. 3776. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-07819-8
[21] E. J. Barbero, T. M. Damiani, and J. Trovillion, Micromechanics of fabric reinforced composites with periodic microstructure, International Journal of Solids and Structures, vol. 42, iss. 9–10, pp. 2489–2504, May 2005. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2004.09.034
[22] F. Ye and H. Wang, A simple Python code for computing effective properties of 2D and 3D representative volume element under periodic boundary conditions, Computational Engineering, Finance, and Science, Mar. 2017. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.1703.03930
[23] B. R. Hill, Elastic properties of reinforced solids: Some theoretical principles, Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, vol. 11, iss. 5, pp. 357–372, Sep. 1963. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-5096(63)90036-X
[24] R. Younes, A. Hallal, F. Fardoun, and F. H. Chehade, Comparative review study on elastic properties modeling for unidirectional composite materials, Composites and Their Properties, Aug. 2012. https://doi.org/10.5772/50362