CHARACTERIZATION AND DAMAGE MODELLING OF RESIN INFUSED THERMOPLASTIC 3D FIBRE REINFORCED COMPOSITE

Three-dimensional (3D) textile composites are widely used in structural applications due to their superior transverse properties and low manufacturing cost. However, these composites are limited to the thermoset matrix, which is sensitive to the low-velocity impact (LVI) and degrades their residual strength. Furthermore, the available damage models for 3D textile composites are computationally inefficient for large scale dynamic simulations. On the other hand, the use of novel thermoplastic resin (Elium) has the potential to improve mechanical, impact and damage tolerance properties of composites due to its higher fracture toughness and strong fibre/matrix interface. Also, the multiscale damage model based on coupled micro-meso-macro approach envisaged as an efficient and reliable model for damage modelling in 3D textile composites. Thus, the objectives of this research work were to evaluate the mechanical, impact, damage tolerance properties and failure mechanisms of novel resin-infused thermoplastic (TP) and conventional TS 3D textile composites, and to develop a nonlinear 3D multiscale progressive damage model for 3D textile composites.