Analytical Micromechanical Modelling of In-plane Shear Behaviour of Unidirectional Composite Plies
K.D. Caignie (TU Delft - Aerospace Engineering)
C. Kassapoglou – Mentor (TU Delft - Aerospace Engineering)
O.K. Bergsma – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Aerospace Engineering)
D. Zarouchas – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Aerospace Engineering)
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Abstract
This work presents an analytical micromechanical framework to predict the in-plane shear behaviour of unidirectional composite plies. A fiber-matrix representative volume element (RVE) is formulated by modelling the fiber as a Timoshenko beam on an elastic foundation representing the matrix. From the governing boundary value problem, the effective RVE shear stiffness and shear modulus are derived and evaluated. The formulation is assessed through comparison with classical bounds and finite-element analyses for different fiber volume fractions and RVE geometries. To account for variability in fiber volume fraction, a statistical homogenisation procedure based on a power-mean representation is introduced, enabling correction of the initial stiffness predictions. The full framework, incorporating constituent failure, matrix nonlinearity, and local stiffness degradation, reproduces key features of the ply shear stress–strain response. While the framework captures the qualitative mechanisms governing the response, further independent characterisation of matrix behaviour and failure statistics is required to calibrate the model for quantitative prediction.