Analytical and finite element models for the prediction of the mechanical properties of textile composites

Textile composites are widely used in advanced industrial applications and are made from various types of fibers embedded in different matrices. Because of the complicated geometry of the microstructure, their mechanical properties are not easily predictable. Theoretical models and FE models have been proposed both for predicting the mechanical properties of textile composites and for studying their variations with the geometrical parameters. This paper presents the results of a common research involving Katholieke University of Leuven and Polytechnic of Milan. An analytical model and a FE model, based on homogenization techniques, are presented and validated against the experimental results obtained on a series of textile laminates made from different types of fibers.