Experimental and numerical determination of the mechanical properties of multi-axial multi-ply composites

The paper presents the experimental and numerical investigation methods adopted to evaluate and predict the mechanical response of multi-axial multi-ply carbon stitched laminates. An accurate experimental mechanical investigation was carried out in accordance to international standards at MTM Laboratory in Leuven. The numerical approach, developed and implemented by the Milan group, consists of two-scale homogenisation, based on the assumption of regular distribution of the fibres in the layer and of the stitching in the laminate. The channels produced by the stitching are included in the finite element model of the material Representative Volume (RV). The complete tensile behaviour of the composites was simulated and compared to the experimental results.