Numerical Analysis for Modeling the Variability inMechanical Behavior of Discontinuous CompositeMaterials

Recent composite technology efforts have focused on discontinuous composite materials derived from prepregtape. Experimental observations have shown that a non-uniform strain distribution exists on the surface of these composite materials. Pattern of these materials can be described in terms of Random Representative Volume Element(RRVE). In the present research, the method is investigated that utilizes a randomization process and assigns elastic properties to the RRVE based on random stochastic distributions. Then, an example use of this method is shown as itapplies to model a tensile coupon with a finite element model. The model discretizes the coupon in multiple RRVEs, whose orthotropic properties are generated by running the stochastic laminate code by MATLAB. This method yieldspredictions that are in good agreement with experimental observations and seems to indicate that stochastic distributions is capable of showing the variability in the mechanical behavior for these composite materials.