A Simple Discrete-Tow Model for Analysis of Textile Composites

A simplified discrete-tow model is presented for analysis of textile composite materials. This model discretely represents the fiber tows and resin independently as beam and shell finite elements, respectively. The approach is simple and very computationally efficient, making it especially well suited for modeling sections of a textile composite material much larger than a unit cell. In the present study, the discrete-tow model is formulated in detail and its utility is demonstrated for the prediction of effective properties for a variety of plain weave and triaxial braid materials.