COMMAT-D-11-01339R.pdf (17.37 MB)
Download fileNumerical modelling of damage initiation in low-density thermally bonded nonwovens
journal contribution
posted on 2015-03-13, 14:53 authored by Farukh Farukh, Emrah DemirciEmrah Demirci, Baris Sabuncuoglu, Memis Acar, Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Vadim SilberschmidtVadim SilberschmidtDue to random orientation of fibres and presence of voids in their microstructure, low-density thermally
bonded polymer-based nonwovens demonstrate complex processes of deformation and damage initiation
and evolution. This paper aims to introduce a micro-scale discontinuous finite element model to simulate
an onset of damage in low-density nonwovens. In the model, structural randomness of a nonwoven
fabric was introduced in terms of orientation distribution function (ODF) obtained by an algorithm based
on the Hough Transform. Fibres were represented in the model with truss elements with orientations
defined according to the computed ODF. Another structural element of nonwovens – bond points – were
modelled with shell elements having isotropic mechanical properties. The numerical scheme employed
direct modelling of fibres at micro level, naturally introducing the presence of voids into the model
and thus making it suitable for simulations of low-density nonwovens. The obtained results of FE simulations
were compared with our data of tensile tests performed in principal directions until the onset of
damage in the specimens.
Funding
We greatly acknowledge the support by the Nonwovens Cooperative Research Centre of North Carolina State University, Raleigh, USA.
History
School
- Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering