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Homogenization-based multiscale analysis for equivalent mechanical properties of nonwoven carbon-fiber fabric composites

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Abstract

To improve fuel efficiency in the automotive industry, several researchers have made many attempts to replace heavy materials among the automotive components. Hence, carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) composites have drawn significant interest from the automotive and aerospace industries. Continuous and discontinuous carbon fiber are used as representative reinforcing materials in composite manufacturing. Recently, the use of discontinuous-fiber-reinforced plastics has increased, compared to that of continuous-fiber-reinforced plastics, owing to their cost efficiency, weight reduction, and relatively easy fabrication and handling. For composite materials, it is very important to predict mechanical properties due to their various constituents and manufacturing method. In this study, we performed a numerical analysis using homogenization technique to evaluate the equivalent mechanical properties of composites combining a nonwoven carbon fiber fabric reinforcement and epoxy resin matrix. We then compared these results with the experimental results. To calculate the equivalent mechanical properties of composites, we modeled repeating unit cells (RUCs) for homogenization-based multiscale approach, and performed finite element analysis. At the microscale level, this method was compared with the rule of mixture (ROM) theory, which is a typical homogenization technique. Based on the proven homogenization technique, we modeled RUCs for randomly distributed nonwoven carbon fiber fabric (NW-CFF) composites at the mesoscale level and calculated its equivalent properties. At the macroscale level, at which these properties could be verified, we compared the equivalent mechanical properties calculated with experimental test results, such as those of tensile, shear stiffness and Poisson’s ratio.

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Acknowledgments

This article is based on a part of the first author’s doctoral thesis. This work was supported by research grants provided by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (No. 15-CM-MA-15), the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (No. 20194030202300) and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT) (NRF-2018R1C1B6002221).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Design and Analysis Center, Korea Institute of Carbon Convergence Technology, Jeonju, Korea

    Haksung Lee, Chan-woong Choi & Mongyoung Huh

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kunsan National University, Kunsan, Korea

    Chan-woong Choi & Ki-weon Kang

  3. CV Innovation Growth Center, Jeonbuk Institute of Automotive Convergence Technology, Kunsan, Korea

    Ji-won Jin

  4. R&D Center, ILJIN Global, Seoul, Korea

    Seungpyo Lee

Authors
  1. Haksung Lee
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  2. Chan-woong Choi
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  3. Ji-won Jin
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  4. Mongyoung Huh
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  5. Seungpyo Lee
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  6. Ki-weon Kang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ki-weon Kang.

Additional information

Recommended by Associate Editor Sang-Hee Yoon

Haksung Lee is a Senior Researcher in KCTECH (Korea Institute of Carbon Convergence Technology). He received his Ph.D. degree in 2017 from Chonbuk National University. His research interests are in the area of FE analysis for composites.

Ki-Weon Kang is a Professor in School of Mechanical Convergence System Engineering at Kunsan National University. He earned his Ph.D. degree in 2001 form Hanyang University. His research interests lie in structural analysis and design for composite structure.

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Lee, H., Choi, Cw., Jin, Jw. et al. Homogenization-based multiscale analysis for equivalent mechanical properties of nonwoven carbon-fiber fabric composites. J Mech Sci Technol 33, 4761–4770 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-019-0917-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-019-0917-6

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